The Fort Peck press., 1936-01-30
REGULATION Of
TRANSPORTATION
President VIII Ask New L,eais-
lation of Forthcoming
Congress.

DDpNh Va OOhSAScS VIII D0 dSHSQ ID
President Roosevelt to enact new lee
islation for regulation Of all forms O
transportation. In the case Of tn
railways they are already so complete
ly regulated that little more could b
suggested without wholly usurp4n,
the functions Of management. Wit
respect to interstate NOV
ing on the highways and waterway.
however, there Is q wide field for tn,
exercise Of Congressional activity.
Joseph B. Eastman, Federal Co-or
dfhator OF Transportation, has pre-
scented his views to the President, botf
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 It may be
safely assumed that many Of the wo
visions written by the Oo-ordinater
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 30 New Cabinet Office
Notwithstanding Mr.. Eastman's ST.
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 q
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.
h objections to q Secretary of
Transportation are as potent today as
when originally put forward. PerTna-
hence Of Administration is imperative
and Is no 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 will de-
velop In thus extending the field of
regulation, leaving to the I. c. c. the
quasi judicial functions which It 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 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 hut with every
other form of transportation perform
ing interstate service.
Public 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 var Is still an unpleasant
memory. More than this, however, the
is becoming more and more sen
;ltive on the subject OF taxation and
vii, il is believed. froNn upon adding
to the public debt to acquire
ne railways and thea be further taxed
o pay the deficits inevitably arising
rom Government operation.
1t world he most heartening and
if the President woulJ declare
Iimself as still supporting the princi-
lies OF private ownership, and if
greatly simplify the p~r"isle.1 o.
congress in dealing with the transpor
alton question next winter.
Whatever proposals may be az
roved by the President and whateva.
he reasons behind them may be. it l. .
ertain now that the Congress whlr!.
leets in January will have to fac t;.c
ecessIty for establishing a ga"prn
nent transportation policy. Loader.
/ the JIoUs, and Senate are authorFty
the in.or!r't!on f0at sue leEtSiI
on will be placed rather near II.
,p of the list OF proposals. mo
.hich the President VIII ask Cor~rae-
act. and today it looks Ike a stran.
aiming toward the regulation Of RAJ
waterway and intercoa -
%ansportation agencies which cal.
terstate commerce.
While the elections may have chang
e Congressional picture 70 soale g.
Mt. the next Congress is expected
practically as suhsorvicnt 10 Z,
as the last two seSsioi..
he logical conclusions therefore a
at transportation legislation, If 81 8
itted by the President, will be O &
ted IN very much the same form 3 Il
is presented. q