The Fort Peck press., 1935-11-28
REGULATION Of
TRANSPORTATION
President Will Ask New Lcxis-
lation of Forthcoming
Congress.

AlSciQOAA INOOS0NCkt " GudCt new l4Q
islation for regulation Of all forms o
transportation. In the case Of tn
railways they are already 50 complete
ly regulated that little more could b,
suggested without wholly usurpins
the functions Of management. Will
respect to interstate commerce NOV
Ing on the highways and waterways
however, there Is 4 wide field for thu
exercise Of Congressional activity.
Joseph B. Eastman, Federal Coor
dinator Of Transportation, has pre-
scented 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 It may be
safely assumed that many Of the pro-
visions written by the Ooordinator
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.. Eastmans 81
lence and the lack of information from
White House sources, there is pur-
poseful talk In Washington to the eft.
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-
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 II regulation Of all
forms of interstate transportation Is
to be entrusted to tho Interstate Com
meree Commission, thefe may be sound
logic In the creation Of a separats
federal agency to assume some Of the
administrative functions that will de-
velop in thus extending the field of
regulation. leaving to ths I. G. c. the
quasi judicial functions which 1t Is so
well qualified to perforx-
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
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
to the railways but with every
other form Of transportation perform
Ing interstate service.
Public Ownership Net Favored.
II public sentiment Is to be the
Judge between these schools, the gov
eminent ownership group coGld not
win, for public experience with gov
eminent operation of the railways
during the war Is still an unpleasant
memory. More than this, however, the
public is becoming more and mere ser
sitive on the subject of taxation and
VIII, 1t Is believed. irown upon adding
to the public debt to acquire
the railways and then be further taxed
% pay the deficits inevitably arising
rom Government operation.
1t would be most hcartcn!ny and
If the President. would drss3re
himself rs still supporting the y-1Aci-
9les Of private ownership, and IT
would greatly sirapllfy the problem Of
congress In dealing with the transpor-
alton question next winter.
Whatever proposals may I've ep
by the President and whatever
reasons behind them may be. 1t l.
now that the Congress wiiish
meets Ia January viii have to fnce tn
necessity for establishing a govern
nent transportation policy. ISadnr
q the House and Senate are auThuTif,
or the ln10rnl4l tHat SUc1 leg Sl3
lon will be placed rather near til:
op Of the list Of proposals upo'
,hich the President will ask ConGres
o act, and today It lnOks like q str0n5
Sward the regulation Of ra:'
waterway and intercoa"t~
rans~portatson agencies which CO...
commerce.
While the elqrt&ons may have change
Congressional picture to some ex
emit. the next Congress is expected t,
e practically rs sNbservient to tt
resident as the last two sessions
he logical conclusions therefore a.
lat transportation legislation, II 81,
lifted by the President, will he G
cted in very much the same form .