Evening star., 1938-12-24
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Following Is the text Of q sum-
mary Of conclusions reached by
President Roosevelt's special Trans
portation Committee:
Rapid and largely unregulated
development Of transportation IA
cilities In the United States has
produced q national transportation
problem without q national trans
portation policy. The railroad prob
lem Is inextricably intertwAaed with
this national problem. One result
OF the absence Of q clearly defined
policy is an intensified but unequal
and economically wasteful compe-
tition for traffic among the several
modes Of transportation-unequal
by reason Of governmental favorit-
ism OF some Of the modes OF trans
portation over Others. economically
wasteful because 1t has resulted In
the creation - transportation IA
cilities beyond the ability Of the
traf1c Of the country to support.
The major factor In the present
distressed condition Of the railroads
Is the low volume Of their trafiic
A contributing factor Is the de-
pressed character of many Of their
rates. Competitive modes Of trans
portation are partially responsible
for the former and almost wholly
responsible for the latter. To the
extent that the inroads made upon
railroad trafic and revenues by
other modes Of transportation are
not due to natural advantages which
the latter possess, but are attribut-
able to artificial advantages accru-
ing to their competitors as q result
Of governmental favoritism In any
respect. the railroads have q right
to object. Such favoritism now ex-
lists In pronounced degree in the i'm
portant matters OF regulation, taxa
ton and subsidies.
National Policy First Step.
While substantial relief shoulc
come with improvement In genera
business conditions, the removal Of
these important contributing cause.
Is essential to the healthful func.
tioning Of the transportation indus.
try. Certain temporary measure,
are necessary and should be adopt.
ed. but the only way in which any.
thing OF lasting benefit may be &C.
complished is by equalizing the stu.
alton Of all modes Of transportation
with respect to the three important
matters mentioned. The first steE
Is the adoption OF q definite nationa
transportation policy based upor
such principle of equalization a.
will provide fair field for all anc
special favors for none Of the vari.
GUS modes Of transportation. Ths
next step Is the creation Of the nec-
essary machinery to insure the ef.
fective execution Of the declared
policy, The recommendations sub.
mitted are largely directed to these
two ends.
Summary Of tions.
National Transportation Policy
Adoption by the Government of q
definite national Transportation
policy providing for fair, impartia
regulation Of all modes OF transpor.
tation, SO administered as to pre-
serve the inherent advantage o1
each.
Jurisdiction of Interstate Com
misunderstanding to be placed
IN the Interstate Commerce Com
mission to administer all regulatory
provisions with respect to rates
services, valuation and accounting
as to all modes Of transportation
together with powers of investiga-
ton limited to its jurisdiction.
Revision Of Rate-making Rule
Repeal Of the present provisions o1
Section l5A of the Interstate Com.
merce Act and substitution thereto,
OF new rate-making rule applicable
to all modes Of transportation, with
suggested wording of the rule.
Long-and-Short Haul Clause
Repeal Of the so-called long-and-
short-haul clause of Section 4 of the
act
Observation-Disclosures Of Sec.
tions 8 and 16 of the act relatine
to reparation in accordance with
recommendations heretofore made
by the Interstate Commerce Com.
mission.
Transportation Board.
Intrastate Rates.-EXtension Of th'
power OF the commission with re.