| Show SAFETY DEMANDS I FEDERAL CONTROL OF THE RAILROADS The Only a Way to Meet Emergencies of the Nation Says Sas A. A P. P Thorn Thom States States' States States' Rights Hight Preserved I Washington Dec That 17 the Inter t eats of t national defense require that control of ot railway lines should rest with the federal government and not with the states was the claim ad by Alfred Altred P. P Thom Thorn counsel to the Railway Executives' Executives Advisory Committee in concluding his preliminary prelim inary nary statement of ot the case to for the be railways before the Newlands Joint Committee on Interstate Commerce We must be efficient as a nation if It we are to deal successfully with our national emergencies said Mr Thom Thorn and we must appreciate that efficient transportation Is an essential condition of ot national efficiency If It we are ore to halt and ond weaken our out transportation systems by state lines by the permanent permanent perma perma- nent Imposition of ot burdens b by unwise regulation we will make national a efficiency effi em dency impossible States' States Rights Would Not Suffer Mr Thorn Thom cited many instances in which shippers in one state were In Injuriously Injuriously In In- affected by selfish regulations regula regula- Imposed on the railroads by neighboring states He Hc pointed out i that federal regulation would be no Invasion invasion In in- of or the rights lights of ot the states but 1 would be the means of ot preserving the rights which they acquired when they entered the Union one of ot which was WIlS the right to the free tree movement mo of ot their products across state boundaries What the tho Railroads Railroad Advocate The principles which the railroads believe should be Incorporated In any Just system of or regulation were sum gum by Mr Thom Thorn as follows follows- 1 The entire power and duty of ot reg illation should be In the hands of ot the national government except as to matters mat mat- so 80 essentially local and Incidental that they cannot be used to Interfere with the efficiency of ot the bervice or the tho Just rights of the carriers 2 As one of ot the means of ot pushing this a system of or compulsory federal Incorporation should be he adopt adopt- ed cd ed Into which should be brought all nil railroad corporations engaged In Inter state or foreign commerce 3 The Interstate Commerce Commie Commis aloe sion under existing laws has too much to do and Is la charged with conflicting functions Including the Investigation prosecution and decision of ot cases The latter duties should be placed in the hands of or a new body which might be called the Federal Railroad Commis slon sion Regional Commissions should bo be established in different parts of the country to assist the Interstate Commerce Commission by handling lo lo- ca cal aces eJ 1 4 t The power ot of the Commission sho should ld hi be oe extended to enable It to prescribe pre pre- s scribe cribe minimum rates and not merely maximum rates rotes as at present This would Increase their power to prevent unjust discriminations Justice to Publio Public and end Roads Roada r 0 5 It should be made the duty of ot the Interstate Commerce Commission In Inthe Inthe the exercise of ot Its powers to fix reasonable rea rea- reasonable rates to so adjust these rates that they shall be Just at once to the I public and to the carriers To Rb this end the Commission In determining rates should consider the necessity of ot maintaining main main- t aming efficient transportation and extensions extensions ex ex- ex- ex t tensions of or facilities the relation of at expenses to rates and the rights of ot shippers stockholders and creditors of ot the roods roads I I 0 O. The Interstate Commerce Commission Commission Commis Commis- Commission sion should be Invested with the power power pow pow- er to fix the rates for tor carrying malls 7 The federal government should have exclusive power to supervise the Issue of ot stocks and bonds by railroad carriers engaged In Interstate and foreign for tor- eign commerce 8 S. The law Jaw should recognize the essential essential es es- es difference between things which restrain trade trado in the case of ot ordinary mercantile concerns and those which restrain trade In the case cose of ot common carriers The question of ot competition Is not the only fair criterion 9 The law should expressly provide for tor the meeting and agreement of ot traffic trot tIc fie or other officers of railroads In re- re of ot rates or practices This should however be safeguarded by requiring the Ule agreements to be he filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission Commis slon sion and to be subject to be disapproved ed cd by It My Iy legal proposition Mr Thorn Thom said Is that the Constitution as It now is gives gl full ful authority to Congress to regulate the Instrumentalities of or in interstate to commerce in all their parts If It the power of or regulation Is to reach rench the public requirements It must be coextensive coextensive co co- co- co extensive with the instrumentalities of ot commerce Mr Ir Thorn Thom explained that the roads arc are not asking either of ot the Committee or of ot Congress any Increase In rove reve revenues Dues DUCS but that they thoy are ore merely asking the perfection of ot a system which will willbe willbe willbe be responsible to any need that may arise |
