New Britain herald., 1930-12-05


 Incidentally, one of the ways in which railway expenses are increas- cd in what seems to be an unjust manner is through the demand for abolishng grade crossings which are made dangerous by the increasing use of the highways by motor ve- hicles. The longer and heavier trains of modern railway practice, ! lessen the movements over grade crossings, whereas the movements of motor vehicles over them grows greater every day. Is it fair that the railroads should be put 10 such great expense for the removal of danger ous conditions brought about by the use Of the highways by their com petitors?
 AS regards water transportation the carriers believe there should be legislation covering extension of the jurisdiction of the interstate com merce commission over port to port rates, to include determination Of just and reasonable rates and prohi- bition Of discriminatory and unduly prejudiCial rates-publication of and adherence to rate hedules-Certi- fiCates of public convenience and ne Cessity-opportunity for carriers 10 enter this field under proper super vision but without handicap-nodi- fication of Panama Canal act 10 per init railroad operation in conjunc- tion with rail service.
 As regards commercial highway islation should cover: extension of jurisdiction of regulatory authori- ties, certificates of public convent ence and necessity proper protective requirements for financial responSi- bility, just and reasonable rates and adherence thereto, with penalty for unjust discrimination, adequate au- thority for rail carriers to operate such facilities without discrimination and adequate provision for privilege or license fee on all motor vehicles for hire or profit, so as to properly participate in construction and maintenance costs Of highways.
 Pipe Line Suggestions
 Pipe line common carriers should he subjected to the same restrictions as to transportation Of commodities in which they arc interested direct ly or indirectly, as the railroads now are.
 "The unfairncss in the pipe line situation lies in the fact that whiie the railroads are forbidden by th- interstate commerce act from trans porting any commodities (other than timber and the manufactured prod | ucts thereof) manufactured. mined or produced by them. the oil con- panies own the oil which is trans ported through their pipe lines iii competition with, the railroads,
 Tn short, what the railroads arc . now asking is q fair field and no favor in the business of handling freight and passengers with every agency at their command, and if this . be granted they will be willing 10 ! take their chances with their com- l. patitors in furnishing the kind of transportation the pubic wants. We believe that the public and industry . in general will recognize the far l ness of this. and that as the rail 1. roads are fundamentally necessary 1. for the handling Of the great bulk . Of transportat ation of the country, i they must be given the opportunity 1 of meeting all forms of competition 1 on an equitable basis if they are to be maintained at all times as an ef- fjcicnt national system of1ranspor-l tation. as they must be if A,e are 70 progress as a nation.'
 Vice President Brister speaks
 Vice President Brister Of the New York Central Lines spoke in part , as follows;
 T have heard the criticism many . times in the past few months that railroad representatives arc talking at gatherings, holding up their sore . thumbs, and asking for sympathy, l. It does not seem to me that that . criticism is justified. Many of us . have been talking about our troubles but We have been talking 10 the people with whom we had . business; who, We believe, are as l. much interested in us as we arc in . them; and whose cooperation is