Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-24
TASKS OVERWHELM
MEMBERS OF |. C. c.,
ASSERTS BRA|NERD
Chairman Tells Practitioners.
at Annual Meeting, of Vain
Legislative Pleas.
COMMISSION LACKS
TIME FOR REFLECTION
Aitchison Describes Regulatory
System in England-Honored
for Service.

Members of the Interstate Commerce
Commission are SO burdened with work
as to produce a situation mot at all
conducive to the proper administration
of justice" Ezra Brainerd, jr., chairman
of the commission, told the Association
Of Practitioners before the Interstate
Commerce Commission at the opening
Of the organizations annual meeting to-
day at the Mayfiower Hotel.
Another member of the commission,
Clyde B. Aitchison, described the regu-
latory system under which British rail-
ways operate.
mo member under existing condi-
tions can long continue TO do the work
that hts official duties require of him, .
Chairman Brainerd said. 1T is physi-
cally impossible.
while the commission is not, tech
nically speaking, a judicial body, its
members are required to vote upon
every controversy that comes before
them for determination. To do this one
must have clear understanding of
what the facts are, and what legal
standards are applicable thereto. This
cannot be done without adequate time
for study and reflection. With the great
amount of important, complicated mat
ters with which the commission is con-
stantly called upon to deal, submit
that Is not now possible"
Legislation Recently Asked.
Chairman Brainerd recalled that in
the commissions annual report to Con-
gress in 1929 legislation was recon-
mended which would allow IL to dele
gate to individual commissioners and
commission employees the power to per-
form specified duties, and to determine
specified matters and subjects subject
to the general supervision and control
Of the commission.
Legislation along this line was In
troduced at the last Congress by Chair
man Parker of the House Interstate
and Foreign Commerce Committee, M.
Brainerd said, but no action was taken
on 1t. adding that the bill passed was
viewed as inadequate.
The chairman urged that members
OF the association, which includes
lawyers and other traffic experts who
appear before the commission, aid In
finding a solution for the problem.
Commissioner Aitchison, who recently
conducted an extensive study In Eng
land of the transportation situation
discussion Of this industry in this coun-
try today--consolidati and co-ordina-
ton of rail and motor transport
Referring to the consolidation into
four systems of the 120 railroads in
England, which was effected about
eight years ago, Mr.. Aitchison said
the results have "in general been dis
appointing yet no one would undo it
II 1t were possible"
Highway Carriers Development.
Discussing the status of highway car
riers Mr.. Atchison said their develop
ment has been enormous, but the COM
petition with rail carriers does not give
the impression of being more severe
than in this country.
The association honored Mr.. Atchison
for his work in directing comprehen-
sive annexation of the Interstate Com
merce Commission statutes, presenting
him with a silver tea set and an en-
bossed scroll. The presentation was
made by r. G. Fulbright.
The annual dinner of the association,
to be followed by dance, will be held
at the Mayfiower at 1880 O'Clock tonight.
Joseph B. Eastman, another member of
the Interstate Commerce Commission,
will be the principal speaker. At noon
tomorrow the $50 delegates will be
received by President Hoover.
The association is headed by John j.
Esch, a former member of the Inter-
state Commission and former member
of Congress.