The Fort Peck press., 1935-09-26
re EGULAT|ON Of
TRANSPORTATION
President VIII Ask New Legis-
lation of Forthcoming
Congress.

session of Congress will be asked b.
President Roosevelt to enact new leg
islation for regulation Of all forms o.
transportation. In the case Of the
railways they are already so complete
ly regulated that little more could be
suggested without wholly usurpine
the functions Of management With
respect to interstate commerce NOV.
Ing on the highways and waterways
however, there Is wide field for the
exercise of Congressional activity.
Joseph B. Eastman, Federal Co-or-
dinator of Transportation, has pre-
sented his views to the President, both
at the summer White House in Hyde
Park, N. Y, and since the return of
the President to Washington, but thus
far Mr.. Eastman has properly declined
to disclose details, although 1t may be
safely assumed that many Of the pro-
visions written by the Co-ordinator
into the bills presented by Senator
Dill In the last session will be en-
bodied in the proposals now offered
for the Presidents approval
May Be New Cabinet Office.
Notwithstanding Mr.. Eastman's ST.
lence and the lack of informal ton from
White House sources, there is pur-
poseful talk In Washington to the eff
feet that the new transportation leg
islation may include the creation of a
cabinet officer to be known as Secre-
tary of Transportation. Obviously,
such move would represent quite
drastic change from present Govern
ment policies, but the suggestion Is
not new, having been proposed for the
consideration of Congress when the
transportation Act of 1920 was being
discussed.
The objections to Secretary of
Transportation are as potent today as
when originally put forward. Permar
nence of Administration is imperative
and is not achieved by the changes
that periodically take place in cabinet
appointments, but washington author
tiles do agree that if regulation of all
forms of interstate transportation is
to be entrusted to the Interstate Com
merce Commission, there may be sound
logic In the creation of a separate
federal agency to assume some Of the
administrative functions that will de-
velop in thus extending the field Of
regulation, leaving to the I. @. c. the
quasi judicial functions which it Is SO
we'll qualified to perform.
There are two definite schools Of
thought In Washington dealing with
a new national transportation policy.
One hopes that the trend within the
ton to assume larger con-
troll over all forms Of private enter
prise may lead to Government owner
ship of the railways, or at least some
Of them, and the other holds that
ownership may still be left In private
hands but regulation and control
should be strengthened not alone with
respect to the railways but with every
,ther form of transportation perform
ng interstate service.
Public Ownership Not Favored.
II public sentiment Is to be the
Judge between these schools, the gov
srnment ownership group could not
win. for public experience with gov
operation Of the railways
Turing the war is still an unpleasant |
memory. More than this, however, the
public is becoming more and more sen |
itive on the subject of taxation and |
viii. it is believed, frown upon adding |
billions to the public debt to acquire |
ne railways and then be further taxed |
0 pay the deficits inevitably arising |
rom Government operation.
1t would be most heartenlng and |
elpful If the President would declare |
imself as still supporting the princi- |
lies of private ownership. and It |
you'd greatly simplify the problem o.
congress in dealing with the transpGr
alton question next winter.
Whatever proposals may he ap
roved by the President and whatcve'
he reasons behind them may be. it |.
ertain now that the Congress which
meets in January will have to face th.
ecessity for establishing a govern
lent transportation policy. Leader
D the House and Senate are auth0Yit;
or the in'orm4tioa that such 'agiala
ion win be placed rather near III:
90 of fe list of proposals upo
,kich the President will ask Congre2
D act. and today it looks like stron-
,aning toward the regulation of re-
ighway, waterway and iatercoast9
agencies which car
lterstate commerce.
While the elections may have change
le Congressional picture to sone e.
mt. the next Congress Is expected
2 pra ctically as subservient to {
resident as the last two session
he logical conclusions therefore q
rat transportation legislation, If SUI
lifted by the President, will he e.