The Fort Peck press., 1936-01-16
AEGULATI0N OF
TRANSPORTATION
President WIFI Ask New Legis-
lation Of Forthcoming
Congress.

WASHINGTON Tho G~orthcornina
Fession OF Congress will DO asked by
President Roosevelt 20 enact new leg
tslation for regulation OF all forms Of
transportation. IN the case OF Ghe
railways they are already so complete
ly regulated that little more could be
suggested without wholly esurpIng
the functions Of management. with
respect to Interstate commerce NOV
ing on the highways and waterways,
however, there Is q wide field for the
exercise Of Congressional activity.
Joseph B. Eastman, Federal Co-oT-
dinator Of transportation, has pre-
scented his views 30 the President, both
at tho summeT White House in Hyde
Park. n. T., and since the return Of
the President 90 Washington, but thus
far Mr.. Eastman has properly declined
to disclose details, although It may be
safely assumed that many Of the pre-
visions written by the Co-ordinatoF
into the bills presented by Senator
Dill In the last session will be en-
bodied ln the proposals now offered
for the Presidents approval.
May Be New Cabinet Office
Notwithstanding Mr. Eastman'e ST.
fence and the lack Of information from
White House sources, Tiers Is pur-
posefuI talk in Washington to the ef
feet that the new transportation leg
isIation may Include the creation Of s
cabinet officer to be known as Secre
tary OF transportation Obviously,
such g. would represent quite g
drastic change from present Govern
ment policies, but the suggestion Is
not new, having been proposed for the
consideration Of Congress when this
Transportation Act Of 1920 was being
discussed,
The objections 70 G Secretary Of
Transportation are as potent today as
when originally put forward. PerIna-
hence Of Administration Is imperative
and Is MOI achieved by the changes
that periodically take place in cabinet
appointments, but Washington author
tiles do agree that IL regulation Of all
forms OF interstate transportation 10
to be entrusted to the Interstate Conn-
MERGE Commission, there may be sound
logic In the creation Of a separate
federal agency 30 assume some q the
administrative functions that Will de-
velop In thus extending the field u
regulation, leaving to the I. @ G. the
quasi judicial functioDs which II Is SO
well 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
Administration to assume larger con
troll over gil forms Of private enter
prise may lead Co Government owner
ship Of the railways, OK ct 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
other eorm Of transportation perform
ing Interstate service.
Public 0wnershIp Mot Favored.
II public sentiment IL to be the
Judge between these schools, the gov
ernrnent ownership group could net
win. fo1 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 n?ore sen
sttive on the subject Of taxation and
Will, II IS believed, frown upon adding
biluons to the public debt 10 acquire
the railways and then he further taZed
TO pay the deficits inevitably arising
from Government operation.
It would be most heartcnlng and
helpful II the President would declarF
himself as still supporting the princi-
pies OF private ownership, and Il
you'd greatly simplify the problem of
Congress In dealing with the transpor
tation question next winter.
Whatever proposals. may be az
proved By tie President and wh2teve!
the reasons behind them ray he. It !
certain now that the Congress which
meets In January Will have 30 5nre the
necessity for establishing g govern
ment transportation policy. eai@r,
In the House aud Herato are authority
for the Information that su"h l@glala
ten will be placed rather near tn
toD Of tie list OF proposals npoT
which the President will ask Congress
to act. and today it looks like 8 strca"
leaning toward the regulation OF ~
highway, waterway and interc0sstH
TRANSPORTATION agencies which carr!
interstate commerce.
While the elections NAV have chang
the Congressional picture to some OK
tent, the next Congress Is expected {.
he practically as subservient to ta
President as the last two session.
The logical conclusions therefore ar.
that transportation legislation, II gu,
mitted by the President. viii be e
acted in very much the same form {
it is presented.