Evening star., 1932-11-09
Truck and Rail Rivalry Stirs
Desire to Establish Equity

Definite desire to place the railways
Of the country on q reasonable financial
basis is indicated in the present ma
tional debate on the subject. There is
desire to establish equity, especially
through greater regulation Of the high
way traffic Of trucks and buses. Some
suggestions are made as to the posi-
bility Of larger rail returns through
lowering of freight and passenger rates.
Recording the relation between freight
rates and the farms, the Sioux Falls
Daily Argus-header suggests that 'ex
isting rates are maintained on a basis
that is not in harmony with other
trends" and while admitting that "the
railroads are in serious difficulty that
paper contends that ''the way oyt lies
in a drastic lowering of overhead
charges instead of higher rates"
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion," says the Chicago Daily News has
stimulated practical discussion by ask
ing the railroad executives to submit
definite answers to two queries-name-
ly. whether, in their Judgment, an in
crease of passenger traffic could be ef-
fected by a Nation wide reduction in
basic fares, and If not, what alternative
suggestions they can offer as to the
proper method of relieving the users of
railroad freight service of the unfair
burden resulting from Improbable pas
senger rates. The executives should be
able to answer those pertinent questions
without awaiting the comprehensive
report on the railroad problem as
whole. which the Coolidge committee
has promised to submit within six
months. The recent experience of many
carriers must have thrown considerable
light on the effects Of temporary or
seasonal bargain rates and reductions
Of vacation fares. In some instances
the increase in passenger business re-
sulting from the reduced fares was re-
markable. Railroad net income has
been increased, and doubtless can be
increased still more. by economies in
operation and ceaseless promotion of
efficiency. But it is neither just nor
businesslike to maintain improbable
basic passenger rates. And since the
competition of busses, airplanes and
private motor cars precludes the rails
ing of passenger fares. the possibility OF
meeting competition and increasing in
come by reducing the basic rates should
challenge earnest attention"
Observing that Texas has under
taken to regulate rates to be charged
by the motor carriers in the same way
that rates are fixed for railway car
riers," the Rochester Tfmes-Union ex-
plains that in a case taken to the
United States Supreme Court. the State
has been "endeavoring to preserve its
railroads against ruinious competition,
and also has had an eye to securing
compensation for its State-built high
ways" The Roanoke World-News de-
clares that Legislatures Of a majority
of the States are reported to be plan
ming to bring order out OF chaos In re-
gard to the highway motor truck" and
that "the truck people themselves show
signs of cooperating in bringing about
some form of uniform legislation" That
paper observes that the highest court
has ruled that Texas had q right to
pass and enforce law limiting weight
on its roads to 10 TONS" and that "Ohio
has added an interesting complication
by an order refusing certificates on GER
tain routes because Of trafic conges-
tion," action In which it has been up
World-News adds that passenger
buses are already regulated in ~
States, running wild only In Della
ware"
"Just what is the situation" asks
the Houston Chronicle, created by the
Federal regulation Of railways, the
patchwork State regulation Of truck
lines and the lack Of regulations in
other fieldsl In the end the people
generally must pass on a general scheme
Of regulation which will give fairness to
all forms of transportation and bring
them to . coordination Of effort which
viii best serve both the public and