The Fort Peck press., 1935-12-19
REGULATION Of
Transportation
President VIII Ask New Legis-
iation of Forthcoming
Congress-.

WASHINGTON. The fOrfhcCmiD
session of Congress will be asked b
President Roosevelt to enact new les
islation for regulation of all forms O
transportation. In the Ease Of tn
railways they are already SO complete
ly regulated that little more could b
suggested without wholly usurpin,
the functions of management. Wit
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-
scented 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 MI. Eastman has properly declined
to disclose details, although 1t may BIZ
safely assumed that many of the pro
visions written by the Co-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 MI. Eastman's ST.
lence and the lack of information from
White House sources, there is pur-
poseful talk in Washington to the ef-
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 a
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 4 Secretary Of
Transportation are as potent today as
when originally put forward. Perma-
n 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
MERGE Commission, there may be sound
logic In the creation Of a separate
federal agency to assume some of the
administrative functions that win de-
velop IN thus extending the field OF
regulation, leaving to the I. G. C. the
quasi judicial functions which it IS 80
we'll qualified to perform.
There are two definite schools Of
thought In Washington dealing with
Il new national transportation policy.
One hopes that the trend within the
Administration 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
other form Of transportation perform
ing interstate service.
PubIIc Ownership Not Favored.
II public sentiment Is to be the
Judge between these schools, the gov
ownership group could not
win, for public experience with gov
operation Of the railways
the war Is still an unpleasant
memory. More than this, however, the
is becoming and san
,itive on the subject of taxation ami
sill, it IL believed. frowa upon adding
TO the public debt to acquire
he railways and then Re further tayad
o pay the deficits inevitably ~arising
Government operation.
1t would he most h%earteDing and
If the President would declare
imself as still supporting the princi-
les Of private ownership. and I.
you'd greatly simplify the problem o.
In dealing with the tTGnspor-
alton question next winter.
Whatever proposals may be an
roved by the President and whatevrf
ne reasons behind them may be. II +
ertain now that the Congress Witch
leets in January will have 10 faca tn.
ecesGity for establiehirg a govern.
lent transportation policy. Lender
the House and Senate are anti.aritt
,r the information that srch lcriSla
will he placed rather near tn
~ Of TIE list of proposals lpor
hich the President viii ask C4ncre@e
act, and today 1t looks Hike a stro-c
aiming toward the regulation oe ratj
.ghway, waterway and i~n+ercoas',
ansportation agencies which car,
terstate commerce.
While the elections may have cham. !
e Congressional picture to gems c j
Mt, the next Congress Is expected &: '
practically rs suhserviant to
'esident as the last two sesgio, 6
lie logical conclusions therefore a
transportation Legislation. Il = J
tied by the President, win be 4
ted in very much the same form S