Show COMMITTEE BEGINS RAILROAD INQUIRY Proposed by President to Hotter Better Conditions Con Con- tiny May Change Condi Conditions Condi- Condi Extend Extend Authority Interstate Commission Ten members of ot Congress five Senators and five members of of the I House of ot Representatives began in Washington November 20 an inquiry inquiry inquiry in in- into the subject of ot public control control con con- control and supervision of ot railroads that may lead to the revolutionizing of the scheme of ot governmental regulation of ot the country's tranSportation transportation transportation tation lines Incidentally the committee committee committee com com- i is to look into the question of ot government ownership hip on railways railways rail rall- I ways telephone and telegraph lines and express press companies The member members of the committee which will conduct this Important investigation investigation in in- are Senator Newlands of ot Nevada chairman Senators Robinson of ot Arkansas Underwood of ot Alabama Cummins of ot Iowa lovra and Brandegee of ot Connecticut and Representatives Adamson Ad Ad- amson amoon of ot Georgia Sims of Tennessee Cullop of ot Indiana Esch of Wisconsin and Hamilton of Michigan The inquiry inquiry in in- was recommended by President Wilson in his hb message to Congress In December of ot last year He described a u as Its purpose to determine what could be done for tor bettering the conditions under which the railroads are operated and for tor making them more useful servants servants ants of ot the country as a a. whole Prominent Men e ae Witnesses In order to obtain the views of all an i interests affected by the operations of ot the transportation lines the committee has invited prominent shippers bank bankers bankers bankers ers representatives of ot commercial organizations or or- organizations railway executives economists economists mists and others to appear before them The first fret to be heard beard are railroad commissioners of ot various states who began their evidence toda today Their testimony is b directed chiefly to op opposing ing lag an any enlargement of ot the federal authority over commerce that would detract from the powers power now exercised by state bodies bodle The They will b be followed shortly by officials of ot railway labor organizations who arr are ert ex tM t tn to iw rc Ir later their opposition to the Increase of governmental authority over oYer wares wages and conditions of or labor Chief Interest in the hearings centers centers cell cen cen- cen in m the proposals proposal that will b be put forward b by representatives of the railroads railroads rail rall- roads for It Is b reported that they will advocate an extension of federal authority au an over rates and securities to the practical exclusion of state control of f these matters It is understood also that thc they will go co on record in favor of ot federal fed fed- eral oral ln Incorporation of all aU railroad lines Legislative Program of Railroad Railroads From an authoritative source Is la obtained obtained ob oh- tamed the following outline of the le leg blahe program which the railroads will ask alt the committee to consider InIta In its Ita investigation The They will endeavor to demonstrate to the commission that one ace of the principal defects in the present pres pres- present ent alt system of railroad re regulation is the lack of coordination resulting from the simultaneous and conflicting re regu lation laUon b by the federal government and by the 48 states The They will therefore ask ark that entire governmental control of ot the rates and practices of interstate carries carriers except purely local matters be placed in the hands of ot a federal bod body so 10 that Interstate traffic ma may be regulated without reference to state tate lines linea leaving leaY to the state commissions Jurisdiction only over OTer local matters matten and ud local public utilities As A. Asa a part of this plan a compulsory system of federal incorporation tion is to be to recommended hv lv f LArI vl r 1 Tm Iw I i 0 4 u V A fV f VI v. railroad stock and bond leases Issues A reorganization of the Interstate Commerce Commission will be asked In order to enable the commission properly prop prop- erl erly to exercise Its increased powers It is also is-also also proposed that the preparation and p prosecution of cases against the railroads shall shaH be delegated to some other agency of or the government bly the Department of ot Justice so 80 that the commission may devote its energies ener ener- clef gies to its administrative functions With the commission thus relieved of some Bome of ot Its present duties and equipped equip pod ped to handle Its business more promptly prompt ly the railroads will urge urco that the period pe rind during durine which the commission may now suspend proposed Increases IP a rates be bt reduced from ten months t h 60 ro days with provision for reparation to be paid to the shippers It If the advance ad I vance shall shan be bo declared unreasonable unreasonable- They will wUI also ask that the com commission commis- commis mis eion slon be given the power to prescribe minimum as well as maximum rates so 80 that in m meeting complaints of ot crimination the commission ma may or order r the advance of ot a rate which it considers consid consid- ers too low One of the thc most important recommendations for tor which the railroads will ask favorable consideration is that the commission be specifically authorized to take into account In rate regulation the effect of ot rates upon total earnings In the light of ot ex ex- ex- ex penns While the Newlands Committee Is required under the resolution creating creating creat creat- ing It It to submit a n report by January 2 next it Is ie not anticipated that the thi th Committee will have baTe come anywhere near completing Ita its labors labor then |