Evening star., 1934-11-12
RAIL COMPETITOR
REGULATION HELD
NO CURE FOR ILLS
/ c. c. Chairman Declares
Logically Co-ordinated
System Needed.
HAZEN AND ELGEN ALSO
SPEAK AT CONVENTION
City Head Tells Railway and Util.
ity Men Congress Does Not
Support D. c.

Regulation Of competing forms OF
transportation is no panacea for rail-
road ills, William e. Lee, chairman
Of the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion, today emphasized before the
National Association of Railroad and
Utilities Commissioners, opening their
forty-sixth annual convention at the
Willard Hotel.
There must, however, be control of
all carriers to bring about logically
co-ordinated system OF national
transportation, Lee told the as
sembly, which Is composed of the
members of regulatory bodies from
46 States and the insular possessions
of this country.
The association also heard from
Melvin c. Hazen, president OF the
Board of Commissioners of the Dis
trict, and Riley E. Elgen, chairman
of the Public Utilities Commission,
who, in welcoming the visitors, dis
cussed the fiscal and political phases
Of the locar governmental structure.
Outlines Maintenace.
Hazen, proposing, as he said, to
dissipate any idea that the District
. Is supported by Congress-" outlined
the Federal-District principle of
maintenance and added that the
Federal contribution toward this has
been reduced until it has almost
reached the vanishing point"
Elgen, recalling that the associa-
: ton had been advised at its meeting
! here nine years ago that the District
has no vote, added I'VE are still with
/. out franchise; in that respect, we
are unique"
In taking up the subject of trans
portation regulation, Chairman Lee
said, the increased development OF
highway and water carriers had made
it increasingly apparent that some
steps should be taken in this
direction.
OF primary importance he views
the safety features necessary on the
highways, where, he said, there is
oPPoA141S 1Opo va LAG e4l0
Size Restriction Urged.
"The preservation and protection
of human life is of greater conse-
quence than commercial considera-
tions of competition and profit" he
said Il am firmly of the opinion
that there should be legislation that
will bring about proper restriction
of the length, height, width and
weight of motor vehicles; a imita =
ton of the number and size of trail
ers probably the most impor-
tant of~all-a requirement that only
qualified and experienced drivers be
permitted to operate properly equipped
and regularly inspected motor We
5hicles, under limitations of reasonable
hours of service"
AS to rates, which have always
been a point of contention when reg
ulation Of highway carriers was under
consideration, Lee expressed oppo-
sition to the view that "the rates OF
one transportation agency should
have a direct relation to the rates OF
another"
The railroad rate between two
points should be only one of a num-
ber of elements, and in no wise a
controlling one. to be considered in
determining a fair, reasonable and
non-prejudicial motor vehicle rate
between the same points"
Hurt by Scarcity of Traffic.
: Railroads, he continued, are suf-
Co. ~
traffic, "and the regulation of motor
vehicles and water lines will not re-
store to the rails the traffic they have
lost. The justification for the regula-
tion of these so-called competing
forms of transportation is on other
grounds. The stability of motor We
hicle and water charges, dependable
service, the prevention of discrimi-
nation between persons and places
the elimination of unbridled competi-
tion and determination of fair and
reasonable rates. 1t is important
however, for the country to- under
stand that while the ills of the rail-
roads cannot be wholly cured by leg
islation, their recovery can be ma
terially hindered and prevented by
unwise legislation. I do not refer tc
emergency legislation; I am taking q
long-range view"
In his speech Commissioner Hazer
touched on the tax situation here
pointing out that assessments are
made on full value, and that during
the depression, this often has meant
a levy on generalization. He recalled
also that there is large volume oi
property-both private and Federal
that is tax exempt.
Hazen urged that the visitors urge
on their members of Congress the ne
cessity for adequate municipal sup.
port.
e Both Hazen and Elgen touched or
the operation of the local utilities anc
the charges which govern.
2 United States Legislation Discussed.
John E. Benton, the national so.
licitor for the association, discussed
new Federal legislation affecting util-
tiles and said the communications
act has restored to the States their
control of intrastate telephone rates
Frank P. Morgan of the Alabama
Public Service Commission, a vice
q president of the association, pre-
sented the report of the Executive
Committee. while Andrew R. McDon-
aid of the Wisconsin commission
president. presided.
The association had an opportunity
to greet an associate who has at.
z tanned new eminence-the Governor.
elect of New Hampshire, Stiles
Bridges-a, former member Of the
New Hampshire commission, coming
= here for the meeting. Bridges wa;
elected last week.
A number Of Government official.
(. are on the convention speaking list
Frank R. McNinch, chairman of thu
Z Federal Power Commission, Is givins
an address this afternoon; Joseph B
Eastman, co-ordinator Of transpor.
1 tation, speaks tomorrow. when thu
I convention will be devoted principal.