Evening star., 1927-03-20
PRIVATE RAIL RULE
SUCCESS DOUBTED
WoOdIoCk Also Draws Gloomy
Picture of Voluntary
Merger Plan.

Without committing himself on
the policy of Government ownership
or subsidy Of the railroads, Commls-
sioner Thomas +. Woodlock of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, in
an address yesterday afternoon
before the Political Study Club, ex-
pressed doubt whether the carriers
can longer be conducted with the
best results" under private owner
ship.
Drawing a somewhat gloomy out
look for the voluntary consolidation
plan, which he admitted has not
made very much progress, Commits
sioner Woodlock indicated that the
time is not far distant when the rail-
roads will be forced to look TO the
Government for credit. To get the
best results under private owner
ship. he said, the public must have
a clearer understanding of the COM
pleX relations of the carriers, a mat
tor which he indicated would require
a Sreat deal more enlightenment than
exists now.
Benefits Pointed Out.
Mr.. Woodlock declared that while
there is division of opinion over the
benefits to be derived under the con-
solidation plan, he personally felt
financial strength of the various
groups and in improved public
service.
Careful to avoid any public dis
cussion of policies, Mr.. Woodlock
confined his address to a graphic
description of the complex duties in
Volved in a commission of IL men
who have almost absolute control
over the destiny of more than one
half the entire railroad mileage in
the world. Transportation, he empha-
sized, has been the most contributing
factor in the advancement of living
standards and it's importance to the
Nation is being increased by the re-
markable growth of motor truck
traffic.
Explaining the sweeping powers of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
over every factor in the conduct or
railroad management, Mr.. Woodlock
remarked that a railroad president
can do little more now than sneeze
with impunity without danger or
coming in conflict with the regulatory
body.
Traces Rail Abuses.
Mr.. Woodlock traced transporta-
tion problems from their beginning
in this country up to the abuses OF
secret rebating determinations and
the attempts of State legislatures to
enforce rates, which led ultimately
to the enactment and Strengthening
of the interstate commerce act. In
connection with the early fight over
rate fixing he declared that If any
State is to be given credit for paw
, ing the way for Federal control of
the railroads, credit should be given
to the State of Texas.
Regulating the conduct and man
agement of a transportation system
in excess of 250,000 miles, involving
a multitude of conflicting problems,
Mr.. Woodlock declared, is one of the
biggest jobs under the Government
service. IF there We're in heaven
IL arch angels who could be made
members of the commission" he
said, at would still be safe to pre-
dict that opinions would be rendered
by a 6-to-5 vote
Program Is Switched.
Mr.. Woodlock was introduced by
Mrs. Clyde E. Aitchison, wife of
Commission Aitchison of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission and
president of the Political Study Club.
When it became known at the last
moment that the women's quartet
was unable TO appear, this need on
the musical program was filled by the
Interstate Commerce Quartet, COM
prising Harold Brown. Mr.. Wooden,
Thomas Pyne and j. Paul Kelley,
Robert Feuerstein was accompanist.
The meeting yesterday was held at
the Washington Club.