The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-31
MORE PAY FOR


tC0ntnueu from rage OHe-t
wages just as it did when the shipping
board advanced the scale in shipyards.
While the new rates Will be paid thru
the present railroad Off ces, the gov
erament will supply the additional
money because the guaranteed aver
| age net railroad income of the past
three years cannot, in most cases, COW
er the raise
| The amount of the increase has not
been determined. but President Wilson
has assured the men their requests
VIII be fairly dealt with
The mediation board asked McAdoo
to be permitted to represent him in
conferences with brotherhood leaders.
The railroads will not figure in the
conferences unless as tolerant third
party because only TIE public and the
employees are directly concerned. The
rail Dad security holders are protected
! by the governments net income guar
| antee.
McAdoo may act p rsonally for
speed, without awaiting mediation,
altho the brotherhood leaders were
reconciled at their recent conference
with President Wilson to sixty days
delay. They will learn McAdoos de-
ciSion regarding mediation at a meet
ing with him scheduled for later this
week.
Putting Quart in Pint Bottle.
His order number one. pooling
!
tional system, disregarding corporate
advantage. remairs to b. worked out.
1t did not increase rolling stock. Pres
ent railroad experts says trying to
handle all available freight today with
present equipment is like trying to
| or 'wd a quart into a pint bottle.
McAdoo is already turning his at
tention to financing shipments in ter
! minals and equipment. Some of the
eighteen hundred locomotives under
American plants by f4reign govern
ments will be requisitioned and some
Ii -eS will be stripped of engines and
freight cars which viii be placed into
service in congosted territory.
Many passenger coaches will be
converted into freight cars.
Additional terminal facilities and
store houses will be constructed at
tide water ports and at the big inland
! railway centerS. it will be weeks, prob
ably months, before the common use
of present terminals at New York, Jer-
sey City and hicago can be worke ID
out.
Bid for PubIic's Patience.
Government officials today asked
the public to be patient with federal
control. New tracks, engines, freight
cars and terminals must be built
Priorities must be revised Rerouting
will require careful thought. To dc
away with present congestion in the
east will take weeks.
McAdoO'S organiZa ton must b,
completed and will need time to make
its plans.
J. Many steps must wait on congress
sionaI sanction. This legislation i.
being framed today to cover the fin
ances and intricate legal problem.
resulting from the change to govern
ment control
Program for New Legislation.
This legislation will include:
!,
pensate the railroads annually on =;
basis of the net operating income O
the last three years.
Appropriation for new warehouse:
and other needed improvements
Authorization for steps the govern
ment must take to unity the system.
further than McAdoo has yet gone o,
to legaliZe some steps he may take il
the emergency
Laws to protect the travelling anC
shipping public from losses nov
borne by tIe railroads themselves.
Can't Collect Damages.
1t is the belief of constitutions
lawyers that travellers and shipper.
today have no recourse for damage!
suffered in railroad accidents or de
lays. The government, having LEASED
the railroads, they say, is liable fol
such damages but under the laws O
the country the government canno
be sued.
While the president will get exactl,
|, what he wants from congress. Their,
will be a spirited fight against hi
, plan for compromising the railroad.
a basis of their last three years ne
operating income. A group of sena.
, tors led by Cummins. Iowa think.
: the compensation shouldN be based OF
, a flat six per cent of the averag e mar.
ket value of stocks during the last fiv,
years Such basis, they contend
would save the government million!
: and fairly compensate the railroads
Aside from this point, there is nj
opposition to the government railroad
plan and opposition party leaders " hi
have studied the railroad DrobIer11 apf