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Show SAFETY DEMANDS I FEDERAL CONTROL I OF THE rAiLROADSl Only Way to M8($; Cniergencies I o( Nation, SaM p. Tta I STATES' HIGIITPBESEB J ests of Public and the n U" pul.ory Sy.tcm cf Fcdcr,! S I ration Favored. """' Washington. Doc i.Tim ih. . I cats of national defca 0 C( Hl eon iol of railway ,M Zm 1 with tho federal gover,cllt ",! with the s,,M w,n the j vanccd 1 Alfred P Thorn, tn8! I to the Hallway Kxc. uc,' aM Committee. In concluding 1,1, ,J Innry statement of tho ca5c railways before the Rowland, jj Committee on Interstate Commerce II "Wo must bo clIlclo.it a, a nation Jl we are to deal successfully wtD 0JB nntlonnl emergencies," said Mr. Thoa "nnd wo must nppreclnte that cfllct Jfl transportation Is an essential conditio, of national clllclency. if wc lte .IB halt and weaken our tranporuiJB systems by stnto lines, by thc pcrmiH nent Imposition of burdens by unwUtB regulation, wo will make national to clcncy Impossible." B Statci- Rights Would Not Suffer. I Mr. Thorn cited many Instance kl which shippers In one state were Iol Jurlously affected by selfish rcpilaB tlons Imposed on tho railroads bjl nclgbborliiK states. He pointed ociH that federal regulation would be no la-1 voslon of thu rights of the states bat I would be tho means of presorting to rights which they acquired nlienthcjl entered tho Union, 0110 of which mil tho right to the free movement of theltl products across Btato boundaries. I What the Railroads Advoeati. I Tho principles which the rallroaiili believe should be Incorporated In ao;l, just system of regulation were sunl marlzed by Mr. Thorn as follows: I 1. The enjtlre power and duty of nt-1 illation should bo tu thc hands of ttul' national government, except as to tnat-l' tcrs so essentially local and Incldcnull that they cannot bo used to Interfcril with the efllclcncy of the service or UBr Just rights of the carriers. I. 2. As one of thc menus of accoo-B pllslilug this, a system of compiilor;H federal Incorporation should be adoptB ed. Into which should be brought liH railroad corisiratlons engaged In Inter state or foreign commerce. !l. The Interstate Commerce Comnli-Hi slon under existing laws has too ranch to do nud Is charged with cotiQIrttotH, functions. Including the Invcstlpatlca. H prosecution mid decision of rnes. Tbtl latter duties should bo placed In thel' bands of a new body which might beH' cnllcd the Federal Itallroail Conmli-B' slon. Regional Commissions fhonUl bo established In different parti cfl the country to assist the IntrrxtitiH, Commerce Commission by handllc;l J, en I cases. 4. The power of the CommtdmB should be extended to enable It IorH scribe minimum rates and iiotnertljB maximum rates as at present. TWB would Increase their power to present unjust discriminations. H Justice to Public and Roatls. I f. It should be made the datyoftJiB Interstate Commerce Commission. uBi the exercise of Its powers to furn-Bj sonnble rates, to so adjust these riltfH that they shall be Just nt onretoWB public and to tho can lers. To this -the Commission. In determining should consider the necessity of o tulnlng clllclent transportation andct tensions of facilities, tho relation expenses to rates and tho right shippers, stockholders and creditors the roads. . H 0. The Interstate Commerce Comma slon should bo Invested with ""B er to fix tho rates for carrying msJ H 7. Tho federal government b(TB hnvo exclusive power to supenK t ' Issuo of stocks nnd bonds by ""'B carriers engaged la Interstate and (" elgn commerce. B 8. The law Bhould rocogalie ,De " sentlal difference between tiling " restrain trade in the case of ord"JB mercantile concerns nud those ff"B restrain trade In the case of carriers. The question of coair""'1 ls-not tho only fair criterion. B 0. The law Bhould expressly Pr0'B for the meeting and agreement 0 " ' He or other olllcers of railroads u ' siect ot rates or practices. should, however, be safeguaruw requiring tho agreements to w with tho Interstate Commerce too slon and to bo subject to be dlsai'F" 0,1 It- Mr Tboo "My legal proposition. r. said. "Is that tho Constitution now Is gives full authority ln, to regulato the InstiuinentnllliM" tcrstate commerce In all tucu 1 H tho power of regulation H i" ' tho public requirements. It im' ..... ,,( extensive with ho (struraeub"c commerce." , d' Mr. Thorn explained that tne I nro not asking either of the-oro or of Congress nny Inrrcuso " ' M nues, but that Jhey are 'crif(,D W tho perfection of a system im o responsible, to nny uw1 im 1 Iso. |