OCR Text |
Show 79 in transportation in interstate or foreign commerce, extend- ing to their rates, service, intercarrier relations, and ancil- lary matters.33 At the same time, Congress pronounced a na- tional transportation policy to govern the administration and enforcement of the Interstate Commerce Act as it applies to all carriers. It is: M to provide for fair and impartial regulation of all modes of transportation subject to the provisions of this Act, so administered as to recognize and preserve the inherent advantages of each; to promote safe, adequate, econom- ical, and efficient service and foster sound economic con- ditions in transportation and among the several carriers; to encourage the establishment and maintenance of reasonable charges for transportation services, without unjust discriminations, undue preferences or advan- tages, or unfair or destructive competitive practices; to cooperate with the several States and the duly author- ized officials thereof; and to encourage fair wages and equitable working conditions; all to the end of devel- oping, coordinating, and preserving a national transpor- tation system by water, highway, and rail, as well as other means, adequate to meet the needs of the com- merce of the United States, of the Postal Service, and of the national defense. All of the provisions of this Act shall be administered and enforced with a view to carrying out the above declaration of policy. ** Act of September 18, 1940, § 1, 54 Stat. 898, 929, 49 U. S. O. 901 et seq. Variation in some of the regulatory provisions depends upon whether the water carrier is a common or contract carrier. The Act defines a "common carrier by water" as "any person which holds itself out to the general public to engage in the transportation by water in interstate or foreign commerce of passengers or property or any class or classes thereof for compensation * * *;" and a "contract carrier by water" as any other person "which, under individual contracts or agreements, engages in the transportation * * * by water of passengers or property in interstate or foreign com- merce for compensation." § 302, 54 Stat. 930, 49 U. S. O. 902. The pres- ence of contract carriers in water and motor transportation and the differ- ing provisions for their regulation are a principal source of distinction between regulation provided for them and that regulation prescribed for railroads. u § 1, 54 Stat. 899, 49 U. S. C. 901 note preceding. 911611-51------7 |