Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-05
CHANCE TO END WAR BY TURNING AGAINST KAISER
URGES RAILROADS
TO BE UNITED UNDER
FEDERAL CONTROL
THE w AR

brotherhood chiefs this afternoon
refused to comment on the inter-
state commerce commission re-
port to congress- recommending
unification Of all railroads under
government management or pri-
vate control Of both roads and
coal mines by the commission.
w. S. Carter, head of the En-
ginemen and F'iremen's brother
hood, said he was mot surprised"
at the report of the commission,
but that Sabaths suggestion was
news to him.
W. S. Stone of the Engineers
brotherhood, said he might have
something to say tomorrow.
w. G. Lee of the Trainmen could
not be reached.
WASHINGTON. DEC. s. - THE
RAILROAD CRISIS WAS PLACED
SQUARELY BEFORE CONGRESS
TODAY BY THE INTERSTATE
COMMERCE COMMISSION. IN A
SPECIAL REPORT RECOMMEND
ING UNIFTCATIoN OF THE CoUN-
TRY'S LINES, EITHER UNDER
GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT OR
PRIVATE CONTROL.
Almost simultaneously Representa-
tive SABBATH, Illinois, introduced re-
solution, authorizing the commission
to take over operation Of all railroads
and coal mines for the duration of the
war.
The commission left decision to
congress but recommended that if
government management is tried THE
CARRIERS BE GUARANTEED AN
ADEQUATE ANNUAL RETURN FOR
USE OF THE PROPERTY as the
, British system at present does.
| REMOVAL ANTITRUST LAWS.
| In case congress decides In favor Of
allowing the railroads to combine in
one system for war deficiency; the
commission recommended that anti
trust laws and other legal barriers be
removed and that in addition the gov
ernment should give the carriers fl
nancial assistance
Foreshadowing the granting of the
railroads demands for freight in
] creases the commission said:
THE carriers have the right to
! demand at our hands. and It is our
duty to approve just and reason
able rates sufficient to yield fair
| returns Upon the value of the pro-
perty devoted to public use after
necessary expenditures for main
tenance. renewals and betterments
properly chargeable to operating
! expenses and appropriate deprecia-
tions. Measured In dollars, the
,f I,,x
/ ing the past and current fiscal
/ years exceed any In their history.
/ But what the dollar will buy In
labor, material and supplies Is sub
! stantially less"
The commission regards government
control as the solution to the freight
congestion OF the country and the rail
road crisis.
After reciting conditions, the COM
mission says:
THE alternative Is operation as i
unit by the president during the period
of the war as a war measure under the
war powers vested in him by the con
stitution and the powers which have
been or H,ay be conferred by congress
A minority opinion. written by Com
missioner McChord. while concurrine
In the recommendations for govern
ment operation Of the roads as a unit
suggests that the governments war or
ganizations facing the most dire need
such as food and fuel administrations
and the war industries board, have a
hand in the operation.
NO TIME TO DELAY.
The majority opinion. written by
Chairman Hall. said:
I'm our opinion the situation does
not permit of temperizing. All ener-
gies must be devoted to bringing tht
war to successful conclusion and tc
that end 1t is necessary that our trans
portation systems be placed and KEEP
on the plane Of highest efficiency. Thi.
can only be secured through unifica.
tion OF their operation during tn,
period of the war.
"If the unification Is to be ef-
feeted by the carriers. they should
be enabled to effect ii in a lawful
way. To that end. in our Judgment.
the operation of the antitrust
laws except in respect Of CONSOLE
dations or mergers OF parallel and
competing lines. as applied to rail
and water carriers subject TO the
act to regulate commerce and Of
the anti pooling provision Of Sec
tion 5 OF that act should be sus-
pended during the period Of the
war and until further action by the
congress.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
.'In addition they should be provides
from the government treasury witt
financial assistance In the form OF loan