The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-08
CABINET FAVORS
WILSON PLAN TO
CONTROL ROADS
Message to Congress Soon
Unless Opponents Give
COgent Reasons:
WOULD MAKE LOAN EASY
Lab0r's Attitude in Doubt;
Lovett Issues New Rules:
Coal Is Coming Here.
WOULD MAKE LOAN EASY
Special Despdf dfeA to TnE suS.


to-day seem TO point to the conclusion
that the President -"ill address Congress
soon on the raiir Dad situation and that
he will advocate Government control Of
war.
Tho Cabinet had lengthy session TO-
day with the railroads as the chief topic
Of discussion. The President. II is under
stood. did not indicate that his mind
was fully made UP a. to the course he
would pursue. but unless some cogent
argument Is presented TO him IN the
next few days against the plan for Gov
ernment control Il Is almost certain that
ne will urge that the railroads during
the war be operated under Government
auspices.
A majority OF the Cabinet. It appears
now. favors this plan. Secretary Me-
Adoo. Postma ster-General Burleson and
Attorney-General Gregory are under
stood to hold particularly. strong views
with respect to the advisabllity at this
time OF making the railroads part OF the
Government war machine to be operated
as such and coordinated with the other
war making branches OF the Govern.
ment until the expiration Of the war.
Sense Of Congress Tested.
Coupled with the attitude Of some Of
the leading members of the Calumet Is
tho fact, now generally admitted by lead
ers who have canvassed the sentiment
in Congress in the last two days. that
no proposition for Government loan to
the railroads even as n war measure
could be put through Congress without
II terrific struggle. "a long as they
remain under ;he.r own managers
, The rnilroad managers and the Rail-
road War Board would like the present
eystem continued. but havo stated that
they need q billion dollars f- equip
! meut and improvements. This they
would like TO see In the form OF a
! Government loan or Government
, equipment trust Chairman Sims OF the
| Interstate Commerce Committee O. the
! House believes thct with the opposition
! as II IL in Congress II woIld take
six months 20 get such legislation
| through. with the chances favortng its
! defeat.
! Chairman Newlands is some what more
/ optimistic, but In both the Senate and
the House there Is much radical senti-
ment against giving the railroads any
assista nee unless the Government should
control them.
The President is aware of this senti-
ment. and has been told by some OF
his Cabinet that public sentiment has
been aroused by traffic delays and is
demanding that the Government shall
assume charge. The plan OF appointing
a railroad administrator to act for the
President, such an administrator utiiiz.
tpr oil ,( tl.a rail si,AG
fipds the most favor. Some members o'
the Cabinet believe II would be better IL
he were not railroad man. himself,
Lnl,er's Attitude Unrcrtnin.
The attitude OF the railroad labor or
ganizations on the subject. which is nov
engrossing the attention OF the Presi
dent and his advisers. is stlil a matte,
Of much speculation, The four railroa,
, brotherhoods for years have been agains
|, Government ownership OF the railroad,
for the reason that II would place then
In a position that the Post Office en-
. ployees are in.
: While the plan now being d!scusse,
for Government control OF the railroads
{ would be a war measure only. and ad
mittedly would not call for Govern
, ment organisation of the railroads al
y
are reported 10 be against the plan.
. There were rumors to-day that som
Of the E.: -Four chiefs were headed TO
, this city TO make known their views
That 1t might affect their present wag
dems nds there is no doubt.
n .mbers of the Cabinet who favo
Government control at this time, how
ever. do not agree with the railroad
managers contention that under Gov
L.
efficiency on the part of the employee
J OF the railroads than NJ present. The
I contend that the efficiency of the POS
: Office Department compares favorab
! with that of the railroads.
Postmaster General Burieson is advo
\ eating that the Government take owe
the control of the telegraph and tele
phone lines, and there are some her
I who believe that this too may be sug
: gested as later war measure,
Decreased Emciency Feared.
!, Members OF tire Ba,lroad War Boar
1 made II plain In a talk with the news
h paper correspondents that they woul
I prefer that the control Of the railroad
: should be left as 1t is, though admi,tin
1 that the Government control plan wit
I a guarantee would work out well for tn
Il StOGknOlucTS. lH' lnNlpdI tpJ'ttlDn I
!. Government control, cited by Fairfa
Harrison, chairman Of the Railroad Wa
a Board, was that 1t would lessen the pre-.
: ent efficiency of employees who now ur
q der the spur OF the rewards of privat
i ownership were working at top notch
In the opinion OF the railroad pres
dents gathered here two measures coul
be undertaken without Government 90,
troll which would do much to clear u
the situation, the appointment at once
D a Government tranic manager for q
Government supplies and the issuance ,
an order giving priority In the manufa,
ture Of certain railroad supplies, partic,
p iarly cars and locomotives.
N The railroad executives understand tn;
a q Government traffic manager Is about
be appointed. This traff'c manager won
assume charg" OF all Government shii
rnents and would determine their ord,
= OF priority. This. the railroad manag
I say, would put an end to the confuslc
that has resulted from every Govern
nent department issuing preference tai
Unfortunately for its own freight
| Edward r. Chambers. formerly OF Il
Santa Fe system and at present traff
manager for tho Food Administratio