Evening star., 1934-03-10
|. c. c. SUPERVISION
Of ALL CARRIERS
IS SEASTMAN' PLEA
Co-ordinator Urges Action
by Congress to Avert
"Threatened Chaos"
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
Co-ordinator Joseph B. Eastman to-
day warned Congress of Threatening
chaos" in the Nations transportation
system.
Choosing words carefully, he urged
that it be averted by placing complete
control of water, motor truck and bus
transportation under the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
The report by the Federal co-or-
dinator of transportation was the sec
ond in a series he will make to Presl-
dent Roosevelt and Congress. In 1t
he answered an emphatic yes" to
these two questions:
rs there need for Federal legisla-
ton to regulate other (than raid
transportation agencies and to pro-
mote proper coordination of all means
of transport"
rs there need for amendments to
the Federal statutes to improve de-
tails of the present system Of regu-
lating the railroads."
Outlines Tentative Plans.
Eastman's first report outlined a
tentative plan for Government opera
ton of the railroads, and another for
enforced consolidation, but said the
time was not yet ripe for either
Reports on air transportation and
labor situations are in progress and
will be delivered shortly,
Today he recommended in addition
to an expanded I. c. C. control:
Minimum as well as maximum joint
rail-water rates; relaxing the long and
short haul clause of the interstate
commerce act, and shortening periods
of limitation with respect to claims
against carriers.
Eastman pointed out the vast pour
ing of capital into transportation IA
cilities other than rail since 1920. He
added:
The natural result has been a
bitter struggle for traffic, not only
between the various forms of trans
portation, but within each subdivision
or group, and this struggle has been
intensified by the depression.
lllS SIludlIOli, hlll(ll lao LNNA
continuously growing more acute, net
only imperils the financial stability of
the national transportation system,
but it threatens the wages and work
ing conditions of labor and it creates
a decentralization in rates and charges
which in the long run is menace to
commerce and industry"
The object of handing such sweep
ing control to the I. c. c., he said,
was not only the protection of the
railroads but also "the proper protec
ton Of every form Of transportation" !"
Each can do certain things better
than the other, he said, and added
bluntly:
1T is too much to expect that all
of the present facilities of transpor
tation in each group can Survive, for
there are many which are now with
out economic justification, but out
of the present confusion and waste a
sound and well co-ordinated national
system of transportation can be built.
THE agency to achieve this result
is believed to be the Interstate Com
merce Commission"
L. C. C. Mods Agreement.
The 1. c. c., which withheld all
comment upon Eastman's first report,
today nodded agreement to the pres
ent recommendations. There was
only one rift.
Chairman Lee and Commissioner
McManamy objected to any changes
in the long ng-and-short- clause.
The report was accompanied by
bills for regulation of motor and wa
ter carriers and one making the other
suggested amendments in the inter-
state commerce act.
In our judgment" said the COM
mission. the enactment of the first
two bills is imperatively necessary
under present conditions.
If on account of pressure Of time
the Congress should find it impossible
or impracticable to undertake to en-
act into law all three classes Of pro-
posed legislation, we recommend that
precedence be given to the first two.
These We recommend unani-
mously."