Evening star., 1926-06-20
BUSL|NES' INQUIRY
BEGINS ON JULY Il
|. C. C. to Study Competition
With Railroads or in Con-
neCtion Herewith. :

Preparing for a report to Congress
upon the transportation situation with
regard to common carriers not now
within the purVieW OF the interstate
commerce act. the Interstate Com
nlerce Commission has set dates ana
places for a hearing to so into the
entire subject of motor bus transpor-
ration. bus connections with rail lines
and the possibility of increased COM
petition with railway lines.
\ bill introduced in the Senate by
Senator Cummins of Iowa and IN the
House hv Representative Parker OF
New York is now pending to clarity
the situation With regard to state
regulation of interstate motor bus
lines The Supreme Court has held
that States have no jurisdiction over
interstate bus line operation, with its
right of the States to control lntra-
state lines. The Cummins-Parker
legislation would set up board com
posed of utilities commissioners of the
States to decide questions concerning
interstate bus line operation, with its
findings subject to review by the IN
terstate Commerce Commission.
Bus lines running into Washington
from nearby points will come in for
Interstate Commerce Commission eX-
animation at a hearing to he held at
the offices of the commission with
Commissioner Esch and Examiner
FLYNN presiding. other hearings dur
ing the Summer will be held as fol
lows:
Cover Most of Country.
Chicago. H.. July 81 before Com
missioner F,sch and Examiner Flynn;
St. Paul Mimi, July 80. before Com
missioner E,sch and Examiner Flynn;
. Portland. Greg, August q before
Commissioner AitChiSOn and Exam
iner Flynn: San Francisco. Calf.
August L. before Commissioner Ait
Gibson and Examiner Flynn; Los An
geles Calf, August II, before Exam
iner Flynn; Denver, Colo. August %,
he fore Examiner Flynn; Detroit
Mich. September |. before Examiner
FLYNN: Boston, Mass. September s.
before Commissioner EsCh and Exam
iuer Flynn: New York City. SeDtem
her 10, before Commissioner Esch
and Examiner Flynn: AsheVille. 4. c.,
September 5, before Commissioner
l1sch and Examiner Flynn: Dallas,
Ten. September 20. before Examiner
Flynn; Kansas City. September ~
before Examiner Flynn.
Questionnaires have been sent ONt by
the commission to the State utility
commissions and to owners and Op-
orators of motor bus lines seeking
answers to many of the questions
that will he asked at the oral hear
ings.
The order initiating the inquiry
/ provides that the commission shall
! enter upon an investigation into and
concerning the question of the OPP
GRAFTON OF motor busses and motor
trucks by or in connection or compe-
tition with carriers subject to the act;
also including the rates. fares.
charges. etc, local, proportional or
iont. and schedules thereof, and pro-
visions for filing and publication of
such schedules by carriers subject TO
the act. and including the extent to
which traffic and revenues of car
riers subject to the act are affected
Z bv the operation of motor buSSeS or
motor trucks. or both, by or in con-
nection or competition with such car
riers subject to the act, with a view
20 making such findings and entering
such orders as the facts developed by
. the investigation may warrant, and
for the purpose of making such rec
concentrations to Congress-.
Limitations on Inquiry.
The investigation, it is pointed out,
does not affect intrastate carriers,
nor does the commission seek JurlS-
diCtion over interstate carriers. 1t Is
for the sole purpose of aScertaining
the facts with regard to motor bus
carriers operated in connection with
or in competition with rail carriers
now subject 10 Interstate Commerce
Commission jurisdiction so that an
adequate and complete report to Con
gress maS be made.
The Supreme COurt decision deny
ing the right of state commissions to
have jurisdiction over interstate bus
, lines WAS the chief order of business
at the annual meeting of the National
Association of Railway and Utilities
commissioners here last fall. Out of
that meeting grew the legislation now
pending in Congress.