SOUTHEASTERN RETAIL COAL ASSOCIATION, Hon. WARREN G. MAGNUSON, DEAR SENATOR MAGNUSON: The following is a resolution adopted by Southeastern Retail Coal Association at its annual convention at Gatlinburg, Tenn., June 11, 1963, in support of President Kennedy's legislative recommendations looking toward more equal regulation of railroads and the general strengthening and improvement of the national transportation system. It is respectfully requested that this resolution be included in the record of the hearings on Senate bills 1061 and 1062. RESOLUTION Whereas Southeastern Retail Coal Association, Inc., is vitally interested in a strong and efficient common carrier transportation system within the United States; and Whereas certain of the Presidential recommendations to Congress have been submitted to Congress in the form of Senate bill 1061, proposing to remove minimum rate regulation in the transportation of agricultural and fishery products, passengers and bulk commodities, and Senate bill 1062, proposing to otherwise strengthen and improve the national transportation system; and Whereas the aforementioned proposed legislation will afford a basis for a competitive and efficient overall transportation system which will benefit agriculture, commerce, industry, and the consuming public: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That Southeastern Retail Coal Association, Inc., does hereby record its full support of the proposed legislation embodied in Senate bills 1061 and 1062, and urges favorable action thereon at this session of Congress. J. O. ARCHER, Executive Vice President. A RESOLUTION BY STRUCTURAL CLAY PRODUCTS INSTITUTE, WASHINGTON, D.C. Whereas under existing law transportation rates on con. nodities moving in bulk by barge and on agricultural products moving by truck are not subject to economic regulation by the Interstate Commerce Commission; and Whereas under existing law transportation rates on all commodities moving by rail are subject to economic regulation by the Interstate Commerce Commission; and Whereas, the President of the United States in his message to the 87th Congress relative to the transportation system of our Nation, dated April 5, 1962, recommended that rates on bulk commodities and products of agriculture be exempted from minimum rate control by the Interstate Commerce Commission as to all modes of transportation; and Whereas the President of the United States in his message to the 88th Congress on the state of the Union, dated January 13, 1963, after stating that "Our economic health depends on having healthy transportation arteries," reiterated his belief that "the way to a more modern, economical choice of national transportation service is through increased competition and decreased regulation"; and Whereas bills S. 1061 and H.R. 4700 have been introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, to implement the President's messages; and Whereas rates should be made in the light of modern technology so that the several modes of transportation may compete for traffic for which their equipment, service, and cost characteristics are best adapted: Now then, be it Resolved by the Structural Clay Products Institute, That the institute go on record in support of S. 1061 and H.R. 4700; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to all members of the Committee on Commerce of the Senate and to all members of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce of the House of Representatives, urging their support in the passage in the public interest of this much nedeed legislation. J. CERMAK, Secretary. Dated at 1520 18th Street NW., Washington, D.C., this 22d day of May, 1963. A RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY SUPERVISERS INTER-COUNTY COMMITTEE, DETROIT, MICH., JUNE 26, 1962 Whereas the Supervisors Inter-County Committee, representing Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties in the State of Michigan, is deeply concerned with the expansion and welfare of the county, State, and National economy; and Whereas the current crisis in transporation adversely affects the vitality of our domestic economy; and Whereas the President of the United States, in his April 5, 1962, message to the Congress, recommended constructive measures and policies for the relief of the transportation crisis: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That this committee commend the President and his advisers for their crisp analysis of the affect of Federal regulation on all modes of transport; and further Resolved, That this committe endorse the spirit and intent of the President's recommendations; and further Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the chairmen of the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee with an urgent appeal for considered legislative action during this session of the Congress. GERARD H. COLEMAN, Executive Director. THE TEXAS INDUSTRIAL TRAFFIC LEAGUE, Hon. WARREN G. MAGNUSON, Hon. OREN HARRIS, Chairman, Committee on Interstate Foreign Commerce, GENTLEMEN: The Texas Industrial Traffic League is opposed to the enactment of H.R. 4700 and S. 1061, which contemplate the exemption of certain carriers from minimum rate regulation in the transportation of agricultural and fishery products, passengers, and bulk commodities. The league is a nonprofit corporation whose members are the commercial organizations and industries of Texas, with representation through their traffic officials. The league has no carrier members. It is recognized that there are certain inequities in transportation regulation among the several modes, but it is our feeling that H.R. 4700 and S. 1061 fail to provide a suitable remedy. The members of the league are aware of the fact that this legislation is supported by the railroads and opposed by motor carrier and water carrier interests. Our interest in the bill, however, is from an entirely different standpoint-we feel that the public interest is receiving very little consideration and perhaps has been temporarily lost from view in all the clamor of the interests of the respective modes of transportation. We understand that the bill purports to leave all other sections of the Interstate Commerce Act intact and in full force, but it is our opinion that if minimum rates are deregulated as proposed by these bills the announced intent of not disturbing other sections of the act will be impossible of accomplishment and the net result will afford the public little or no protection. For example, section 4 of the Interstate Commerce Act-the long- and short-haul clausewas substantially weakened by Congress several years ago. The antidiscrimi nation and preference and prejudice sections offer little protection to the public, because of the requirement that such discrimination is prohibited only "under substantially similar circumstances and conditions." As a practical matter, the main protection which the public receives today under transportstion regulation is under the requirement that rates be reasonable-whether they be maximum rates or minimum rates-and enactment of this legislation would seriously impair the ability of shippers and receivers to secure relief from inequities where minimum rates are involved. We sincerely urge that these bills be defeated. ROBERT B. REEDY, Chairman, Legislative Committee THE TEXAS INDUSTRIAL TRAFFIC LEAGUE, Hon. WARREN G. MAGNUSON, Chairman, Commerce Committee, Hon. OREN HARRIS, Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, GENTLEMEN: The Texas Industrial Traffic League has considered H.R. 4701 and S. 1062, Transportation Act of 1963, and offers the following comments: The league is a nonprofit corporation whose members are the commercial organizations and industries of Texas, with representation through their traffic officials. The league has no carrier members. The league supports the principle embodied in part I of these bills, dealing with experiments by common carriers in rate, classification, and documentation systems. This portion of the bill would encourage experiments in transportation technology and coordination of all modes of transportation, which might prove to be mutually beneficial to carriers and shippers. The league supports part II, dealing with the right to ship vehicles or containers of other modes without price discrimination. In addition to its sound antidiscrimination principle, this provision would also encourage coordination among all forms of transportation. The league supports part III, which encourages the establishment of through service and joint rates through the medium of joint boards. Again, the league feels it to be in the national interest that coordination of all modes of transportation be encouraged and promoted. The league is opposed to part IV relating to enforcement agreements between the ICC and the States on highway transportation. The laws which the States are required to enforce on the highways in many instances have no connection whatever with interstate transportation of property and passengers. In our opinion, the difference in laws to be regulated requires separation of their enforcement. The league takes no position with respect to part V, extension of civil forfeiure penalties for violations involving lack of operating authority, etc. The league supports part VI, authorizing reparation for violations by air carriers. These provisions are found in parts I and III of the Interstate Commerce Act governing railroads and water carriers. The league feels that they hould be extended to all carriers, freight forwarders, and motor carriers as vell as air carriers. The league opposes paragraph II of part VII in which the Government would e authorized to negotiate simplified rate structures for the movement of Government freight. The members of the league feel that, as the Nation's argest shipper, the Federal Government should operate under the same rules, egulations and requirements as commercial shippers. The league takes no position with respect to part VIII, transfer of power eeded in Interstate Commerce Commission with respect to guarantee of loans o common carriers by railroads. We sincerely urge that the views of the Texas Industrial Traffic League eceive due consideration as bespeaking the interests of shippers and receivers a connection with this pending legislation. Respectfully submitted, ROBERT B. REEDY, Chairman, Legislative Committee. Hon. WARREN MAGNUSON, TEXAS SHEEP AND GOAT RAISERS' ASSOCIATION, Chairman, Senate Committee on Commerce, DEAR SENATOR MAGNUSON: We are writing in support of S. 1061 and ask that this letter be included in the hearing record on the bill. We are joining with the National Wool Growers' Association and its affiliated State organizations in support of this legislation. We recognize the importance of railroads being free to competitively reduce rates on bulk and agricultural products in a manner that would better serve the sheep industry. We feel that this can be accomplished through the passage of S. 1061. Sincerely, JAMES L. POWELL, President. TEXTILE WASTE ASSOCIATION. Subject: S. 1061. Hon. WARREN G. MAGNUSON, Chairman, Committee on Commerce, Washington, D.C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Textile Waste Association fully endorses and supports the subject bill, which would exempt the railroads from minimum rate regulation in the transportation of bulk commodities, agricultural and fishery products, etc. The Textile Waste Association is an international trade organization comprised of companies engaged in the marketing of all types of textile fiber byproducts, commonly known in the trade as waste. Its some 170 members handle well over 90 percent of the total tonnage of such commodity, of approximately 2 billion pounds annually, produced by our Nation's textile mills. And since the provision of good transportation at equitable rates is essential to the life of our industry, and being fully aware that the availability of such transporta tion and rates are wholly dependent upon healthy competition between the various modes of transport, it is manifest that we have a direct interest in this proposed legislation. The fiber byproducts handled by our members are a low-valued commodity and the margin of profit thereon is relatively infinitesimal. Thus, since the est of the transportation essential to the sales of any product involving a margin profit constitutes the principal determinant of whether such transactions are economically feasible, the proposed legislation obviously would offer greatly needed benefits to our members. Moreover, not only public policy but downright commonsense demands that no public utility should be hamstrung by law regulation which prevents it from voluntarily reducing the price of the services it provides the public when other utilities with which it is directly competitive are not likewise subjected to such restrictions. The proposed legislation is accord with this philosophy, since it would remove the apodictic and clear unwarranted handicap to which the railroads-the backbone of a nation's transport industries-are subjected in competing for business wholly responsible for their creation and which is essential to their independent existence. By no means do we wish to imply that there should be an amalgamation c all transport industries for the purpose of Federal regulation. Contrariwis we are convinced that the retention of the several transport industries as se arate entities in the regulatory legislation heretofore passed by Congress is sound, proper, and logical in every respect. And, we submit, the continuation this separation will not be disturbed by any legislation designed to remo” illogical disadvantages to which one of these component industries is subjecte to the distinct benefit of others. It goes without saying that the overall pub interest is a covictim in situations of this sort and they should not be tolerated For these and myriad other sound reasons this association fully supports de proposed legislation and we are hopeful that your committee will act favorab thereon, and give it your full support on the floor when it is considered by the Senate. Respectfully submitted. D. FRANKLIN KELL Executive Secretary and General Counse Hon. STROM THURMOND, TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, Chairman, Surface Transport Subcommittee, DEAR CHAIRMAN THURMOND: The TAA board of directors, at its May 14 meeting in Washington, approved a recommendation of its air transport panel that the association support complete elimination of air transportation from the provisions of S. 1061, the administration-sponsored bill to exempt certain carriers from minimum rate regulation in the transportation of bulk commodities, agricultural and fishery products, and passengers. The motion for TAA approval of this recommendation was made by the noncarrier policy committee of the board, which also reported that the air transport panel's recommendation had the support of the association's user and domestic water carrier panels, and that the other panels (investor, freight forwarder, highway, pipeline, and railroad) did not oppose it. We thought it appropriate to pass along this information since the Air Transport Association has formally recommended that your committee take such action. Sincerely, HAROLD HAMMOND. RESOLUTION BY VIRGINIA BEEF CATTLE ASSOCIATION ON NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION BILLS, S. 1061 AND H.R. 4700 Whereas cattle producers and marketing agencies in Virginia are vitally interested in legislation affecting the transportation of agricultural commodities; and Whereas identical bills have been introduced in the Congress of the United States (S. 1061 and H.R. 4700), known as the "minimum rate bills," which would naterially affect the movement of agricultural products; and Whereas, the Virginia Beef Cattle Association believes that increased competiive freedom along with modernization and improved efficency by the transportaion industry would benefit its members as well as other agricultural interests; nd Whereas hearings are now being conducted by the Senate Commerce Commitee and the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce in the U.S. Congress on these transportation bills; Therefore, be it Resolved, That the board of directors of the Virginia Beef Cattle Association ives strong support to these bils and requests the Virginia delegation in Conress to support by appropriate means S. 1061 and H.R. 4700 to the extent that hey would be applied uniformly, without favoring any single mode of transportaon, provide for adequate transportation service and result in savings on transortation costs to the Virginia beef cattle and livestock industries. on. WARREN G. MAGNUSON, airman, Senate Committee on Commerce, S. Senate, ashington, D. C. VIRGINIA STATE GRANGE, Mouth of Wilson, Va., May 16, 1963. DEAR SENATOR MAGNUSON: Our organization is deeply interested in important ansportation legislation, S. 1061, known as the "minimum rate bill," which we el will have a great impact on the agricultural segment of Virginia's economy. e feel that the provisions of this bill have real merit, and that its passage 11 benefit our country. Therefore, we respectfully request that this letter representing the thinking our group on the proposed bill S. 1061 be given consideration, and that it made a part of the record. The considerations of your committee in this regard will be appreciated. Sincerely yours, JOE B. Cox, Master. |