Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-23
Railroad Consultations,

The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has. in accordance with the trans
portation act Of 1920, submitted a plan
for proposed railroad consultations.
The details of the commissions plan
were no sooner made public than Q pro-
test was raised in the Senate Chamber by
Senator Wheeler of Montana and Sem
ator Fittman of Nevada because the
proposal is made that the Great North
ern and the Northern Pacific be merged.
The Montana Senator insisted that
such merger would do away with COM
petition, and so would work to the dis
interest Of the people Of the Northwest.
One Of the arguments advanced for the
consolidation Of the railroads has been
that It would eliminate ruinous com.
petition and permit the railroads TO
give better service at q lower cost, as
other public services have been able to
do, following consultations.
The outhurst In the Senate, however,
Is only forerllnner In all probability
Of other attacks upon the plan which
has been advanced now by the Inter-
state Commerce Commission. No one
believes that all the railroads them
selves are going to be satisfied. In
deed, there are signs already that some
Of the important lines will not agree.
But ct least the commission has pre.
sented the country with q compre-
hensive plan. A beginning has been
made.
As desirable as railroad consolidation
admittedly has become, the proposal
which was seriously advanced years
ago, and In measure provided for In
legislation now almost q decade old.
has been delayed awaiting q report
from the commission. It appeared that
nohing could or would be done until
that report was made. Now that the
commission has done It's part In this
matter, 1t IS to be hoped that any sup
Elementary legislation needed will be
put through Congress without great de-
lay, and that the railroads themselves
will use their best efforts to aid In bring
ing about q realization Of the merger
plan. Mere criticism without construc-
tive advice Is likely to be Of no avail,
whether it comes from legislators or
from the railroads themselves.
There is a general agreement among
members Of the interstate commerce
committee Of the Senate that further
legislation IS required to give full au-
thority to bring about the consolida-
tons now advanced. Senator Fess Of
Ohio, who has bill awaiting action by
that committee, and Senator Watson Of
Indiana, Republican leader, are con-
vtnceA that such Is the case.
The plan now advanced by the In
terstate Commerce Commission de-
serves the most careful consideration
both by the railroads and by Congress.
1t may require revision. It may prove
to be only beginning Of q final plan.
But at least 1t gives to the roads and
to the Congress an indication Of what
the commission Itself would approve in
the way Of consultations and the de-
velopment of q comparatively few great
railway systems for the country. There
must be consideration given to the
short lines" and to the weaker lines
In working out the entire plan. IN
less such consideration Is given, sections
Of the country requiring railroad de-
velopment may suffer badly. It Is OBJ
vious that stronger and more prosper
Gus lines may object to being weighted
down with properties that are not pro-
ductive. But public service demands
that these weaker lines be cared for.