The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-05-07
THE NEW ENGLAND RAILROAD QUESTION
Comments on Report Show That All Interests Have
 Been Fully Protected
BEGETS CONFIDENCE

has an unparalleled opportunity to develop and unite upon a sound transportation policy, President Harry c. Knight of the New Eng land Council declared today in a statement commenting upon the re- lense of the report by the govern nors' committee. Given such a policy. he declared his confidence that New England "can and will make it effective" F Mr. Knight, president of the Southern New England Telephone Company, New Haven, outlined the action of the council, all-New Eng land development organization, in asking the agricultural, commercial, and industrial organizations of New England to study the railroad com mittee report and make their find- ings known to the council, which from time to time will make public the results. s4r
 The New England railroad com mittee was created over year ago by the six New England governors at the suggestion of the New Eng land Council to make an exhaustive study of the entire problem of New England's transportation needs. The results are embodied in the report made public today.
 MT Knights statement follows in full text:
 Perhaps the chief significance of the report of the New England railroad committee presented 10 the governors today is that it demon strates that it is entirely practicable as well as desirable for our New England states, through their gov ernors, and our business interests, through their representatives, to act jointly in considering problems vital to our whole area. No one state, and no single business interest could have undertaken the investi- gation of our railroad situation now completed by the governors com mittee. Had any attempted to do so received by the other states or busi- ness interests with anything like the confidence in the sincerity and dis interestedness of the effort with which I am sure the findings of the present committee will be examined.
 ''The thirty members of the com mittee are business man, all well and favorably known in their own states, and many of them through out New England. They have represented no single interest, state, or city, but on the contrary have been a unit in aheir desire to con- sider the questions before them from the standpoint of the best in- terests of New England as a whole. Through fifteen months, at much served one cause, and that the cause of New England. New England is indebted to them, and our states, communities, and business interests should find means of showing ap- preciation of their service.
 ''New England is indebted also to the governors, both those in or flee in 1929, when the committee was created, and the present incum- bents. But for their individual and joint action, and the financial sup port which they, and they alone provided, New England would not now have for consideration this most comprehensive review of the facts of our railroad situation and the committees concrete recommen- dations for action.
 Having suggested the rceation of the committee, the New England Council feels obligated to do all that 1t can to assist New England to derive the maximum benefit from it's labors. That is why it asked all the agricultural, commercial, and industrial organization, as well as it's Associate members, to make de- finite arrangements to study the committees report, and advise as to their findings and the reasons therefor. The response has been gratifying. Already nearly one hundred organizations have design mated or appointed committees or their members to study the report. The memberships of those commit tees include some of the ablest business men in New England. As Consideration of the report proceeds, the council will from time to time publish the findings. of these many committees, so that all New Eng land may know the trends of bust- ness opinion concerning the pro- gram for more effective organiza- ton of our rail transportation ser vice. .
 "While there will be regret, of course. that the Rhode Island mem
 bers of the committee did not reel they could join in the conclusions
 of the other twenty-five members,
 1t is also to be remembered that the ultimate solution of every lm-
 portant and complex problem is found in the practical reconcilia-
 ton of many differences of opinion. It is not to be assumed in advance that there will be unanimous agree
 ment throughout New. England up-
 on all details of the committees re-
 port, nor is it to be assumed that
 railroad management will find each and every proposal practical for adoption. The important point Is that with the exhaustive study or
 the committee as background New England now has an un-
 paralleled opportunity to develop and unite upon a sound transporta- tion policy which will combine ade-
 uuacy of service with economy of operation to make for real progress.
 Given such a policy. for one am
 confident that 1t can and will be l