Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18

III VIVA Ittb III TIC PIiN lSitliS III lux
act. The measure would appropriate
the sum of 500 900 for the use of the
Interstate Commerce Commission in
administration Of the act and the oper
tor shall he liable to imposition of q
fine and imprisonment.
Measure Stirred Interest.
Introduction of the measure was the
signal for a wholesale descent on
Washington Of proponents and oppO
nents of the proposal legislation. Gen
orally the bus operators were in IA
vor Of the bill. while the truck owners
and operators took violent exception
t. IT, claiming it was the tool and in
strument of the railroads, with whom
they We're and are in direct competi-
ton, would drive them out of bust.
ness, and. generally speaking, declared
that the present is not the time for
Federal regulation, since trucking is
as Yet in the infant stage and has not
grown to the lusty youngster the
truckers confidently declare it will be.
Opposition to many of the provisions
of the measure was made before the
Senate committee on interstate COM
merce by representatives of the truck
ers, while representative of the rail
roads and some bus operators were as
heartily in favor of its enactment.
So emphatically did the truck ope.
ratOrs feel on the measure that thew
introduced in evidence a pamphlet en-
titled AN Attack on Trucking. "
which they used as part of their de.
featist propaganda. Declaring the
father of the bill to he Chairman
Ainev of the Pennsylvania State Pub
lie Service Commission. who Is
known as a railroad man." they said
the bill is indorsed by the American
Railway Association and the National
Conference of Railroad and Utility
commissioners; said ii was monOp0lis-
tic would not protect those in bust.
ness; would force the truckers 10 fight
a powerful enemy the railroads.. and
would virtually wipe out the truckers
a. the whim of a commission.
Rigidity Of Rates Opposed.
Their objection arose also in the
provisions which would make manda.
tory publication of rates, which could
not he changed without approval of
either the Interstate Commerce Com.
mission or the State commissions.
Motor freight long distance haul
ing is almost entirely a question Of
service instead of price" they said.
The time and packing factors. are
the strongest elements in its existence.
Uniform rate regulation will DESTROY
this condition. as all carriers will be
required to give uniform service and
the giving of special service will be
prohibited
John r. Benton. general solicitor of
the National Associa ton Of Railroad
and Utilities Commissioners, suggested
~.
Commission is already burdened with
quite a heavy job in regulating the
rail carriers. lit would he far better
for the public and for the regulated
carriers to create a new commission,
both so far as the new regula alton is
concerned and also as concerns those
matters now under the Interstate
Commerce Commission"
complaint has been made" Mr.
BENTON said, against the State com.
missions for their part in bringing the
bill up. Some rather violent state
ments have been made To the effect
hat it is designed to and will DESTROY
the truck business.
Does Not Blame Truckers.
II do not blame the truckmen for
being suspicious, however unfounded
quite naturally. Undoubtedly the
rail carriers interest in this bill arises
from natural desire on their part to
hold as much traffic as they can by
keeping motor vehicle transportation
at the lowest possible minimum.
Undeniably. also. the fundamental
purpose of requiring certificates of
convenience and necessity is to re.
strict the number of vehicles operat-
ing. If any law passes containing
such requirement. some who want
10 operate will not be permitted to-
There is no doubt about that, and
the truckmen know it, and naturally
do not like to have a law passed
which will require them to show that
their present operations. or others
which they contemplate, are desir-
able in the public interest.
II do not criticize them especially
because they jump to the conclusion
that If the State commissioners sug-
gested this law. which will diminish
their present complete liberty of ac.
ton, the State commissions must be
hostile 10 the truck business: but
they are entirely wrong about that,
as they would realize If they consid.
cred The development of the present
situation a little more dispa ssionatelv.
or studied the bill a little more care
fully.
mo regulation OF motor transpor-
tation by any agency will make
everybody happy. II you require GER
tif1cates to operate, your purpose will
be to prevent operation that is not
in the public interest. Those who
ask for certificates and do not get