The Fort Peck press., 1935-10-03
REGULATION Of
TRANSPORTATION
President VIII Ask Neyv L.ecis-
lation of Forthcoming
Congress.

hS liiCOlliIll
session Of Congress will be asked b
President Roosevelt to enact new les
islation for regulation Of all forms @
transportation. In the case Of tn
railways they are already so complete
ly regulated that little more could b
suggested without wholly usurpin,
the functions Of management. witt
respect to interstate commerce NOV
ing on the highways and waterways
however, there is a wide field for tn,
exercise Of Congressional activity.
Joseph B. Eastman, Federal Co-or
dinator of transportation, has pre-
sented his views to the President. botl
at the summer White House in Hyde
Park, N. Y, and since the return o.
the President to Washington, but thus
far Mr.. Eastman has properly declined
to disclose details. although 1t may BIZ
safely assumed that many Of the pro
visions written by the Oo-ordinatol
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 81
lence and the lack of information 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 a move would represent quite q
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 a Secretary of
Transportation are as potent today as
when originally put forward. Perma.
hence Of Administration Is imperative
and is not achieved by the changes
hat periodically take place In cabinet
appointments, but Washington author
tiles do agree that If regulation Of all
~ LIZ vi Sl0l0 Il dllSpOi lullOn ID
to be entrusted to the Interstate Com
Commission. there may be sound
logic In the creation of a separate
agency to assume some of the
administrative functions that will de-
velop in thus extending the field of
regulation, leaving to the l. G. c. the
quasi judicial functions which 1t Is so
we'll qualified to perform.
There are two definite schools Of
in Washington dealing with
One hopes that the trend within the
to assume larger con-
troll over all forms of private enter
prise may lead to Government owner
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
to the railways but with every
1ther form Of transportation perform
ng interstate service.
Public Ownership Not Favored.
II public sentiment is to be the
Judge between these schools, the gov
ownership group could not
vim, for public experience with gov
operation of the railways
Turing the val is still an unpleasant
memory. More than this, however, the
,uhlic is becoming more and more sen
itive on the subject of taxation and
will, it Is believed. frown upon adding
illions to the public debt to acquire
he railways and then be further taxed
0 pay the deficits inevitably arising
Government operation.
1t would be most h~cartening and
elpful If the President would declare
imself as still supporting the prlnci-
les Of private ownership. and 1t
,ould greatly simplify the problem Of
congress in dealing with the transpor-
ltion question next winter.
Whatever proposals may he ap
roved by the President and whatever
le reasons behind them may be. IT T.
srtain now that the Congress which
leets in January will have to face thu
ecessity for establishing a govern
lent transportation policy. Leader
the House and Senate are authority
" the information that such legisia
will be placed rather neal tn"
% OF the list of proposals upoT
hich the President will ask Congre".
act, and today 1t looks like n stronc
aiming toward the regulation of raj
waterway and intercoasta
ansportation agencies which carr.
terstate commerce.
While the elections may have change
e Congressional picture to some ey
mt. the next Congress Is expected t.
practically as subservlent to IT,
'esident as the last two session.
le logical conclusions therefore al
at transportation legislation. IF su
itted by the President, will be e
ted In very much the same form 6