A BILL TO REDISTRIBUTE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION WITH A VIEW TO MORE EFFICIENT EXERCISE OF RATE-MAKING AUTHORITY; TO EXTEND THE JURISDICTION OF THE COMMISSION IN RELATION TO REDISTRIBUTE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1939 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE, Washington, D. C. The committee met at 10 a. m., in the hearing room, New House Office Building, Hon. Clarence F. Lea (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will please come to order. The committee has met this morning to begin hearings on H. R. 2531 dealing with the transportation problems of the country. (The bill referred to is as follows:) [H. R. 2531, 76th Cong., 1st sess.] A BILL To redistribute the functions of the Interstate Commerce Commission with a view to more efficient exercise of rate making authority; to extend the jurisdiction of the Commission in relation to the fixing of minimum rates, and rates for inland water transportation; to create a Railroad Reorganization Court; and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Transportation Act of 1939." TITLE I-AMENDMENTS TO INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT PART I-INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP OF INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSIONCREATION OF RATE, FINANCE, AND APPEAL DIVISIONS SEC. 1. Section 24 of the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended (U. S. C., 1934 ed., title 49, sec. 11; Supp. III, title 49, sec. 11), is amended to read as follows: "SEC. 24. The Commission is hereby enlarged so as to consist of nineteen members, with terms of seven years, and each shall receive $12,000 compensation annually. The qualifications of the members and the manner of payment of their salaries shall be as already provided by law. Such enlargement of the Commission shall be accomplished through appointment by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, of eight additional Interstate Commerce Commissioners, for terms expiring as follows: Two on December 31, 1940; two on December 31, 1941; one on December 31, 1942; one on December 31, 1943; one on December 31, 1944; one on December 31, 1945. The terms of the present Commissioners, or of any successor appointed to fill a vacancy caused by the death or resignation of any of the present Commissioners, shall expire as heretofore provided by law. Their successors and the successor of the additional Commissioner herein provided for shall be appointed for the full term of seven years, except that any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall be appointed only for the unexpired term of the Commissioner whom he shall succeed. Not more than ten Commissioners shall be appointed from the same political party. Upon the expiration of his term of office a Commissioner shall continue to serve until his successor is appointed and shall have qualified. Hereafter the salary of the secretary of the Commission shall be $10,000 a year." SEC. 2. Paragraph (1) of section 17 of the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended, is amended by inserting after "(1)" the letter "(a)" and by inserting after such paragraph the following new subparagraph: 1 |