Evening star., 1928-04-22
Rr DONALD A. CRAIG.

- ONGRESS soon will BE- wres-
Ting with bran0-new prob
hem in the Federal regulation
~ of transportation. Slowly and
cautiously it is preparing to
enter the fed Of motor traffic. and 1t
seems likely that motor buses, oper-
atlng as common carriers Of passengers
IN interstate commerce, will soon De
subject to a motor transportation act.
similar in purpose TO the law rcgu-
lstinc railroads and steamship lines
engaged in Interstate commerce.
eirce the United States Supreme
Court decided in 1925 that the States
hsve no legal right under the ConSb-
tlltsan to rcgulate interstate motor We
hiclaS, except in the interest OF safety
or the preservation Of the public nigh
ways, motor buses and trucks have
h>~u oearating practically without re-
Se~aint No authority IS now being eX-
ec~lSed, for instance. over the rates
which motor buses and trucks charge
for the transportation, in interstate
commerce. Of passengers or freight
Must BE Done. Is Claim.
Err several years il has been recog-
nized by transportation experts and by
j enbers of the House and Senate COM
mittees on interstate commerce that
sooner or later, something must be
done 10 put an end N TINS conuitlon
cf affairs. Bills have been introduced
in Congress and the subject has been
widely discussed The House committee
on interstate and foreign commerce
has luSt finished hearings on one oil
these measures. introduced by Repre-
sentative James S Parker of New York,
chaiyman Of the committee. As the
first step toward lsgisla ion, this BILL
possibly with some changes, may be
reported soon to the House.
There is no certainty that motor
transportation act. or whatever 1t may
he called. win be passed at this session
Of Congress but il seems likely that
long step in that direction will be taken
end that such q law will be on the
statute books before the next two years
are gone
Ths Interstate Commerce Commits
sioa through Leo ]. Flynn, attorney
examiner. hes made an intensive STUDY
Of the whole QUESTION. Mr.. Flynn
exhaustive report is now before the
House committee and he is comforting
regarding the details OF the proposed
bill With Chairman Parker
Motor transportation has became
such q big factor in modern life that
whatever Congress may decide 10 do IN
this regard viii affect millions OF peo-
pie. There Is no intention of regulating
privately operated motor cars. The
problem involves only motor vehicles
operating as common carriers oi
passengers and freight. In all parts OF
the country passenger buses and motor
freight lines operating regularly be-
tween points In different States. are
becoming more numerous The general
public, and business men engaged IN
the shipment Of freight, are making
more usG Of them every month.
PASSENGER BuSses First.
For the present Chairman Parker OF
the House committee on interstate and
foreign commerce proposes 30 deai only
with passenger buSs2s. leaving the qucs-
tion OF regulating motor Trucks 70 a
later time. When Congress goes into
the QUESTION OF motor freight rates. II
viii find. Of course, that the question
Is intimately connected with railroad
snd steamship rate problems and that
the whole field Of freight traffic viii be
opened up For that reasons nee it /
Is desired 20 act as quickly as viii be .
consistent with proper caution for the i
protection Of the patrons OF motor 1
buses the freieiat-cargytng motor .
trucks wiIl be taken up after the regu +
lataon CT pass niger hl2sses has been
tried out. At least. that is the present
plan
Nationwide Investigation.
Afr. Flsnn's report is based upon
Nationwide investigation of motor
vehicles enEs ged in interstate commerce.
He took evidence in thirteen Of the
largest cities of the country, including
Washington and examined more than
900 witnesses
His report and the prospect of action
by Congress within the near future or
this important question are Of special
interest 10 the residents Of the National
Capital for here busses operating across
the District line anywhere are consider
&C as engaged IN interstate traffic
Transportation as Mr Flynn says in
his report. has always been Of vital inn
por1ance 70 the United States No other
tnstrumentslity has so served 10 pre-
serve the political unity Of this vast
country as It's transportation system
The economic structure OF the Nation
has progressed. and is progressing today.
IN direct relation 70 the Development
and efRcient functioning Of its trans
portation facilities.
IN the past 1t has been found neces-
ssry 70 regulate railroad and steam
shin companies The public depends
20 so great an extent upon transpoTta
ton lines that IL cannot afford 10 be al
the mercy of private owners OF trans
rortation companies Congress stepped
IN and cTea .eo the Interstate Commerce
Commission, 70 which il delegated au-