Evening star., 1932-09-18

ton, working with the Interstate Com
merce Commission, share the work Of
planning the reorganization or read
justment, for the protection Of public
| investments and those Of innocent Sc
curity holders.
And I also propose that when such
plans have been worked out, the same
agencies shall indicate specified Pc
riod Of support to see the railroads
through, in the carrying out OF these
plans.
Second. To aid In the rehabiuta-
ton of roads unable to meet the present
unprecedented strain or that may sue
cumb to past or future mismanagement,
propose a thorough overhauling Of the
Federal laws affecting railroad receiver
ships and indeed Of all kinds Of public
utility receiverships As they now stand,
they suggest Mr.. Dooley's famous die
tum that they are arranged so that
every member Of the bar may get his
fair share of the assets. There Is ur-
gent need to eliminate a multiplicity
of court actions, maze Of judicial
steps. a long period Of business chaos
and a staggering expense allowed to
lawyers, receivers, committees and so
forth. Included In this revised pro-
cedure should be provision by which
the interests of security holders and
creditors shall be more thoroughly pro-
tected at all points-against irresponsi-
BILE or self-interested reorganization
managers.
Third. I advocate the regulation by
| the Interstate Commerce Commission
Of competing motor carriers.
Where rail service should be supple
mented with motor service to promote
the public interest, the railroads should
| be permitted in this manner to extend
their transportation facilities. Indeed,
they should be encouraged to modernize
and adapt their plant to the new needs
Of changing world.
| Fourth. believe the policy Of en-
| forced competition between railroads
| can be carried to unnecessary lengths.
For example, the Interstate Commerce
Commission should be relieved of re-
quiring competition where traffic is in
sufficient to support competing lines.
recognizing. Of course. the clear and
absolute responsibility for protecting the
| public against any abuses OF monopo-
listic power. Likewise. I believe the
/ elimination of non-paying mileage
! should be encouraged wherever the
transportation needs of the community
affected can be otherwise adequately
met.
Would Press Consultations.
Fifth. Proposed consultations of rail-
roads. which are lawful and In the pub
lie interest, should be pressed TO a con-
| clusion. At the same time the provi-
sions Of the law should be revived In
| line with the policies here proposed, and
with repeated suggestions Of the Inter
state Commerce Commission and of
representatives Of shippers, carriers and
their employees. to insure further pro-
lection of public and private interests
| involved. There should be clearer def
nitions of the objects, powers and duties
| Of the commission in promoting and
safeguarding all the interrelated par
! ticular interests comprehended within
/ the public interest. Those who have in
vested their money or their lives In the
service Of railroads. those who are de-
pendent on its service to buy or to sell
! goods, those who rely upon 1t for the
preservation of communities into which
! they have built their lives-all have
vital interests which must be further
safeguarded.
All the appropriate agencies Of the
Federal and State Governments should
| have a part in national effort to i'm
prove the health of these great arteries
Of commerce.
Sixth. So-called railroad holding
| companies" should be definitely put un-
! der the regulation and control OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission in
| like manner as railroads themselves.
| We cannot let our fundamental pol
! icies be blocked by screens Of corporate
complexities.
Finally, we must realize that Govern
ment announcement and cooperation,
more than mere restriction and repres-
sion. will produce lasting improvement
! in transportation conditions. The econ
omy and efficiency of railroad opera
| tions will depend upon the capacity OF
! railroad management and its freedom
from undue burdens and restraints
when this Is balanced by acceptance OF
| public responsibilities 1t will also de-
/ pend in large measure upon the COM
petence and morale Of railroad employees
perhaps the largest body OF skilled
workers functioning as a unit in our
! industrial life
Transportation is not a mechanical
service. 1t is service Of human beings
whose lives are worthy OF even more
| intelligent care than that necessary to
preserve the physical mechanisrns which
they operate, and it Is clear to me that
| all the men and women who are en-
ployed in our great transportation sys-
| TENS are entitled to the highest pos
| sible wages that the industry can al
/ ford to pay.
Every great economic interest in the
Nation requires the continuous, efficient
| operation of the railroads. The prod
ucts of our farms, mines and forest
flow into the markets. The fabricated
products of our manufactures flow back
to these primary producers along the
steel highways.
Costs Must Be Paid.
We must pay the fair cost Of this
transportation, which is in truth a tiny
fraction of the selling price OF COM
modities. But We cannot burden our
producers or restrict their markets by
excessive costs of transportation.
So the constant improvement in the
economy and efficiency Of transportation
is matter of ever-present national
concern. Under stimulus Of good times
and under pressure of hard times much
has been done in the way of this i'm
provement. More can be done.
As a soundly devised public policy
reaches its fruition, railway security
owners may expect greater certainty OF
fair but not excessive return; the pub
lie may reasonably expect lower rates;
labor may reasonably anticipate secur-
ity in properly compensated work.
I do not favor any Government ac-
ton which will relieve railway manage
ments from performing their response
bilities. After all, it Is well to observe
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