Evening star., 1932-04-18
ASKS j. 5. CONTROL
OF MOTOR LINES
Commerce Commission Rec
ommends Regulation of
Bus and Truck Lines.
CONTINUED From First PageD

ence of unrestrained competition by
rival transportation agencies;
That there is today, and probably
would be under normal conditions. an
excess Of carrying capacity Of existing
transportation facilities
That unrestrained competition is an
impossible solution of the present trans
portation problem and is Incompatible
with the aims of coordination under
regulation;
That Federal legislation relating to
the regulation of motor vehicles oper-
ating upon the public highways and
engaged in interstate commerce Is de-
sirable in the public interest"
Investigated Five Years
The commissions decision brings to
a close an investigation which has been
under way for five years.
Leo J. Flynn, an examiner, who, with
Commissioner Brainerd, conducted the
investigation, several months ago sub
mitted a proposed report recommend
ing regulation Of trucks and busses.
The commissions decision carries out
his recommendations to large extent
Asserting "the Federal Government
is wholly inexperienced in this field Of
regulation the commission said it
deemed 1T wise to make haste slowly
Our recommendation is, therefore
said the report, that Congress provide
at once to put Federal regulation to the
test so far as transportation of passen-
gers by motor busses is concerned. This
would provide an organization which
would serve as a nucleus for such fur
ther steps in motor vehicle regulation
as experience and added information
may show to be desirable and prac-
ticable"
Authority Recommended.
1--WE also recommend that immediate
authority be exercised over motor trucks
OF both the common carrier and con-
tract type to the extent necessary to
locate those which are operating in
interstate commerce and obtain from
them such information in regard to
their operations as the commission may
reasonably require.
In this way data will be secured
which, as the legal situation clarifies,
will be of great aid in pointing the
way TO further regulation in the public
interest.
Our recommendations, therefore,
must be regarded in the light Of a
progress report They do not cover the
utmost which we believe will ultimately
prove necessary and desirable in the
way OF Federal regulation Of motor We
hicles. They represent merely the first
step which we believe is wise and prac-
tlceble to take under existing condi-
tions"
House Group Awaits Report.
Chairman Rayburn of the House In
terstate Commerce Committee said
his group had been waiting for the
commission report before giving fur
ther consideration to regulation of
busses and trucks.
L made request for a bill affect
Ing both bus and truck regulation,
based on the commissions findings"
the Texas Democrat said Meanwhile
the House Interstate Commerce Com
mlttee has reported out the bill repeal
ing the recapture clause Of the trans
portation act of 1920 and this week we
expect to report to the House bill to
place railroad holding companies un-
Ger the Jurisdiction of the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
NS OAAN u ONh Will De our
next order Of business. The House
Interstate Commerce Committee In the
last Congress reported a bill to regulate
buses, but in this Congress it has
waited to see what action the Senate
would take. Now we will consider both
busseS and trucks"
Rayburn said his committee had
realized the necessity for regulation of
bus and truck transportation operating
in interstate commerce for some time.
but had preferred to obtain the report
from the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion before going ahead, in order to
have detailed information before it.
Personally" the Texan said, II think
legislation to put out of business a
competitor is never justified, but the
ccmre itor should be placed under the
same reasonable regulation as the car
rier with which it comDetes"