Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-07
CONGRESS
TO Mr.. WILSON
Presidents Recommendations
May Govern Course on Rail-
way Problems.

What will Congress do with the rail-
way problems put up to It In the Inter
state Commerce Commissions report OF
yesterday?
This question was foremost ut the
Capitol today. regarded as the most
exigent issue Of war legislation OF the
session. Inquiry at various sources OF
authority developed that answer to the
question will depend in large measure
upon future recommendations OF Presi-
dent Wilson. The President in his mes
sage indicated that he would submit q
special message upon the railroad stu
alton.
Congress is invited by the commits
sion's report practically to choose Pc
tween two acknowledgements OF the
roads by a central authority OF ran.
road officials or by the President OF
the United States. There Is also sug-
gestion of additional legislation neces-
sary. under one alternative, TO tempo
rarily suspend antitrust laws aho au
thorization of government fndorseo
low-rate loans foS immediate necessi-
ties of the roads.
Representative Sims View.
Representative Thetus W. Sims OF
Tennessee, prospective chairman OF the
House committee on interstate anu
foreign commerce after January
the situation today with a represents
tive of The Star.
"Speaking for myself. as a member OF
the House, 1 would first like TO near
from President Wilson. the commanoes-
in-chief Of military forces OF the coun-
try. for his views upon what Is present.
ed TO us as a war measure. ! take II
that legislation demanded now OF. &C,
ton to be taken now Is Tor the peIloo
Of the war and not designed Is perWa
nent law or practice.
again, speaking for myself, II l nave
to choose between vesting supreme CON
troll and direction of the railroads IN
central authority selected from 'n ne
the hands of the President, l would
take the latter alternative.
One Course OF the Other.
IT think we will have to do one or the
other. I aprehend that the emergency
is acute, requiring action. To leglsIate
upon the several subjects embodied In
the commissions report, such as sus-
pending the antitrust laws. etc, would
take months of time. There are many
elements in the situation to be consid-
cred, conflicting interests which would
perience how difficult 1t is to reconcile
these opposing tides in perfecting rail-
way legislation. The situation does not
brook delay.
In my opinion the direct road to
the end is the most desirable power
vested in the President of the United
States in addition to what he already
possesses under the Constitution to d.
rect the conduct of the roads. No ques-
lions of constitutionality would be
raised, no loophole for injunctions and
litigation leading to the Supreme
Courts final decision.
Can Be Intrusted to President.
'I am sure that the welfare OF the
railroads. of the financial interests
back of them and the other equally
important stake at issue, the rights of
labor, can safely be intrusted to
President Wilson.
but If the-President expresses pref
erence for vesting the authority In
central head Of railway managers.
would defer to his judgment. One
thing Is certain. in my mind, however.
and that Is there must be some central
directing authority somewhere.
81 am in thorough accord with the
commissions suggestion that the roads
be loaned money at low rates of inter-
est for immediate necessities of i'm
provements to handle the traffic the
war has put upon them. AS I explained
in an interview in The Star recently,
these loans should not be used for gen.
eral railway expansion, but for emer-
gency purposes"