The sun., 1917-12-07
RAILROADS ASK :
BILLION A YEAR
AS FEDERAL AID
Committee. of Executives
Tells Newlands That Sum
Is Imperative.
WILSON WILL FIX PLAN
COnfers With Commerce
Board and McAdOO-Special
Message Likely.
speeto, DespoteA 10 rus Sun.

.Pstsss DsePess" " - SSS'
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-Decision as to
the way In which the railways shall be
operated during the war now rests with
President Wilson. Tie word that will
come from the White House will be
accepted by Congress. and whatever
plan the President gives his approval to
will be enacted speedily into law.
Realixing that the matter Is now up
to him. the President lost no time to-
day in proceeding TO grapple with the
problem, which on all sides 10 conceded
to bristle with difficulties. This after
noon he sent for the three members of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
In closest touch with the situation and
for an hour went over the problem from
every angle.
The Commissioners who conferred
with him were Chairman Hall, Com
missioner Meyer. who has been inves-
ugating car shortage, and Commissioner
Clark. who attended the conference of
railroad executives. At which the rail-
roads pooling plan was drawn up.
Ke-pin. an open Mind.
No statement was made after this
conference. but It was intimated that
the President was keeping an open mind
and merely proceeding. AS he usually
does, to inform himself thoroughly be-
fore mapping out his plan of action
Immediately after the conference with
the three Commissioner the President
sent for Secretary McAd6o. II is under
stood that the railways were the sub
1ect OF long talk between them.
Members OF the Railroad War Board,
consisting OF Fairfax Harrison, president
OF the Southern; Julius Kruttschnitt,
chairman OF the executive board Of the
southern Pacific; Samuel Rea. president
OF the Pennsylvania Daniel Willard,
president of the Baltimore and Ohio, and
Howard Elliott OF the New Haven. con-
ferred to-day with Senator Newlands.
Committee.
The railroad men told Chairman New
lands that a billion dollars would be
needed for financing them In the ensuing
year IL Government aid were to be ex-
tended. This 0mount would be REQUIRED
to make such improvements az are re-.
garded as urgently necessary to handle
the 1913 traffic.
The railroads for some time have con-
tended that a billion dollars a year for
ten years should be expended on them
II the transportation plants were to be
oAOeB'N oP " thC requirements VI tTaInC.
Senator Newlands recently has ex.
pressed himself as favoring extension of
large credits to the railways by the
Government He recently set the figure
for Government flnQcial aid as high as
billion dollars per annunr To-day he
was not specific on this point, however.
Chairman Newlands Is to have an
other conference with the railroad heads
on Monday and will then have a con-
ference with the President.
Hasn't Asked Railroads Views.
While a general outline was given Of
railroad needs nothing decisive devel-
oped at the conference with Senator
Newlands. II being admitted by all
hands. including leaders at the Capitol
that nothing could he done toward shap-
ing legislation to meet the problem until
the President had spoken.
The President so far as known has al
yet made no effort to get directly from
the railroad executives themselves any
outline Of their views 1t Is a long time
since any railway president has beer
at the White House. and no appoint.
ments have been made as yet with any
members of the Railroads War Board
This has caused some comment here, AZ
II might be expected that the Presiden,
before reaching n decision would desire
to have the railroads viewpoint on the
matter.
! There is every expectation here thai
| the President shortly will give his de,
! cision az to whether the Government
! shall take over the railroads or allow
| them to operate the pooling plan them.
selves and that this decision will b.
IN the form Of a special message ts
Congress.
| On this question there Is n divergence
of views in the Cabinet Some OF nj.
closest advisers. II became known to-
day. are strongly in favor OF the Presi
dent deciding at once in favor Of somt
form Of Government control with g
guarantee that would insure railroad
security holders OF fair return during
Government operation. Some Of thos'
| Who hold this view take the grount
that the railroads have shown the in
capacity to handle themselves. "Th,
! railroads are standing on three Leg
and they need fourth" was the re
mark made by one Of this group.
Government Control Likely.
These advisers of the President il
the mast have been most influential ant
there is some likelihood that their view.
may prevail. On the other hand ther,
are some members Of the Cabinet VIII,
are known to fear that actual Govern
ment control OF the railroads at thi
time would be too radical step Il
take, at least until the other plan pre-
sented by the Interstate Commerc,
Commission had been tried out. Thi
plan would involve the repeal OF al
the anti-pooling laws, but would leav,
the control absolutely with the railroad
themselves.
That the men upon whom the Presl
dent relies for much advice are thos
who are advocating the Government con
troll plan Is looked upon as signifcan
here, and It would not surprise man.
II the Presidents decision would be Il
favor of this proposal.
But on the other hand many Of tn
strongest leaders at the Capitol are op
posed to the plan. and their views ma
have some weight. Even some Sena
tors normally listed among the radical
seen, to be hesitant at the Government
taking this step now. believing that tn
present In not the time for projecting tn
question Of Government ownership int
the arena Of politics. as they believ
would happen were the Government I
assume actual control Of the roads a