Evening star., 1935-06-08
DELAY FACES PLAN
TO CURB CARRIERS
Obstacles Loom Despite
R0oseveIt'S Plea for
Quick Action.
Continued From First Page)

water carriers under Interstate Com
merce Commission control and ex-
pand the l. C. c. to give it 'compre-
hensive powers" over all forms of
| transportation. Mr.. Roosevelt himself
suggested the I. c. C. expansion might
go over until next session.
The railroad refinancing bill has
been worrying the House Judiciary
Committee for months, but the PreSi-
dent said differences of opinion ARE
rapidly being adjusted" EaStman's
statement to the committee recently
| that no large scale rehnancing. was
in immediate prospect. however, gave
some members an opportunity to argue
| that it should be held over for further
study.
Wheeler indicated there might be
slight hopes for enactIng the retlnanc-
ing measure. but was almost certain
the water carrier proposal would 90
over until next session. He said this
was the most controversial OF all
| the transportation measures.
Backs Water Carrier Bill.
IN urging early passage Of the
water carrier control proposal, the
| President said he could "see no reason
why the responsibility for the regula-
ton of intercoaStal, coaStwise and in
land waterways should not be vested
in the Interstate Commerce CommlS-
sion, with proper provision for the
departmentalizing of the work of the
/ commission"
! One objection to this bill has been
/ that the commission. with all its new
duties, might subordinate the water
/ carrier phase.
| While the Presidents message was
en- route to Capitol Hill, Chairman
/ Rayburn Of the House Interstate Com
merce Committee announced hearings
next Wednesday on legislation to eX-
! tend Co-ordinatOr EaStman's job an
other year. 1t expires June l6.
Text of Message.
The text of the Presidents message
/ follows
/ To the Congress Of the United States:
Il IS high time to deal with the
| Nations transportation as a single
unified problem. For many wears in
/ the past transportation meant main
/ ~ railroads. But the rise Of new
1 forms of transportation, great eXpend-
itureS Of Government funds for the
development of waterways and for the
building Of great highways and the
development Of invention within the
railroad system itself, have enlarged
the problem far beyond that ConCep-
/ tlOn which dominated most Of our
past legislation on the subject. In
some instances the Government has
helped a little. In others 1t retarded.
In still others it has given special
assistance from time to time-ln
many instances without rhyme nor
/ reason-in all instances without con-
Sidering each aspect of the problem
in the light of all the others. 1t is
/ small wonder that in transportation
picture so confused the public has
been lnadequately served.
I have from time TO time, in this
session, addressed the Congress as to
the necessity Of various forms OF Gov
ernment aid and regulation of trans
/ portation. I now wish to draw to-
gether and supplement- these various
! suggestions for the consideration Of
the Congress in this session.
/ In the railroad field there has been
growing recognition Of the neCeS-
sity for reorganization and co-ordlna-
ton. To that end there was created
the Office of Federal co-ordlnator OF
transportation. The Co-ordlnator has
considered various ways of efeCting
economies through the physical CO.
ordination of railway facilities and
p in, Il
and made suggestions for legislative
measures covering both the railroads
| and other forms of transportation.
Financial Changes Needed.
Another type of reorganization nee
eSsary for the sound and healthy re-
covery Of our railroad system is fnan-
cial. Many Of our railroads are in a
sound financial condition. Others are
in need of reorganization. To enable
necessary financial reorganizations to
be effected ineXpenSiVely and promptly
the Congress passed, two years ago,
certain amendments to the Federal
bankruptcy act. Shortcomings in this
legislation have appeared which have
prevented an efficient and extensive
use Of it. In order to correct these
shortcomings the co-ordinator has
recommended certain amendments,
which are nov before the Congress for
action. Various differences of opinion
as to these amendments are rapidly
being adjusted, and it is my hope that
this legislation may be promptly en-
acted
have already recommended to the
Congress my views with regard to the
relations that should exist between the
Federal Government and air carriers.
Legislation has been introduced for
the purpose of carrying out these
recommendations. I am in general
accord with the substance of this leg
iSlation, although I still maintain. as
indicated in my message on that
subject. that separate commission
need not be established to effectuate
| the purpose of such legislation. Air
transportation should be brought into
a proper relation to other forms of
transportation by subjecting it to,
regulation by the same agency.
A bill for the regulation of highway
motor carriers has passed the Senate
and is now before the House of Rep
resentatives. The practical unanimity
with which the Senate passed this bill
! convinces me of the extent to which
all of the difficult adjustments among
the interests concerned were made
and l recommend its early passage by
the House.
Another bill for the regulation of
intercoastal and coastwise trade and
of some of the inland waterway car
riers prepared by the co-ordinator has
been introduced and is before the Con-
! greSS for action. I recommend that
this bill be considered by the ap-
propriate committees and pressed to
| early passage. 1 can see no reason
why the responsibility for the regula-
ton of intercoastal. coastwise and in
land waterways should not be vested
in the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. with proper provision for the
departmentaliZing of the work of the
| commission.
1t is my hope that the Interstate
| Commerce Commission NAV with tho