Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-12
PRESIDENT GIVES
RAILROAD MATTER
CAREFUL STUDY
Ii He Determines OH Change,
First Word Will Be Ad-
dressed to Congress.
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATOR
PREDICTED AT CAPITOL
This Official Would Direct Uni
fled Operation of Trans
portation Lines.
SEVERAL CONFERENCES TO-DAY
Members OF Railroad War Board
VIII Submit Information
TO Executive.


WASflINGTOE. December ll-In his
iJst public utterancc on the railroad
situation, President Wilson tonight
authorized tho newspaper correspond
cnis To say he could not answe: ow
| the questions as TO whether he would
address Congress. but tina; he had
given the matter most careful srrutiny
and consideration. and if he determined
Il change In the present plan OF dealing
with the transportation system WAS
necessary tho first word on the subject
would lie addressed 20 Congress.
Tomorrow the President will see the
members of tho railroad war board,
who asked for a conference to-day TO
submit information. The board. which
! speaks for the American Railway AS
sociation. holds that the railroads
themselves can work out un.icat!on
for tho war without government con-
troll and without repeal of antipoolin;
i laws government loan.
|, developed tonight that Daniel
Willard. president OF the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad. and chairman OF the
governments wax industries board. had
/ asked the heads OF the four railroad
employees broiherhoods TO meet him
here tomorrow for a conference.
VARIOUS CONFERENCES
on BIG QUESTION
NJ. Willard said that his purpose
was TO talk about questions pending
before the industries board. but the
| fac; that the brotherhood lenders would
1 be here gave rise to general belief that
they would be called into some OF tho
various conferences on the big question
OF what the government is going 10 90
about the railroads.
Belief grew at tho Capitol during the
day that the President finally Will take
the advice OF those who are urging
him to appoint Federal administrator
TO direct unified operation Of transpor-
ta;ion lines. y, the reopcn!ng OF hear
inss before the joint congressional
committee investigating transportation
problems Representative Adumson,
chairman of the House Interstate and
Foreign Commerce Committee. asserted
that the President probably would have
TO take over the railroads for the pc
riod of the war. and hold them after
the war until Congress could provide
some proper plan for peacc-tmc man
aSement.
MAY ADDRESS CONGRESS
BEFORE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
I; became known yesterday tina; the
President probably Will address Con-
sress before the Christmas holidays TO
submit a plan for dealing with the
railroads. There still is no ind!catio.
however. that he has cor:ided. even to
his most intimate advisers. what he
intends 10 propose.
Even the Cabinet is being KEEP, in
1 the dark as TO his exact attitude. Mem
bcrs who attended to-day's meeting OF
that body declared natly that the mat
4 ter had not been brought up.
Nevertheless the belief is growing; on
all sides that the step he contemplates
is radical one. Congress is prepared
10 have him propose an immediate TAX
ing over of the roads. Conservatives in
the Cabinet and the legislative body.
however. are still hopeful that he will
stop short OF this.
II can be stated on the authority of
an official high in the council of the
4 railroad men and thoroughly conver-
SAINT with the present situation, that II
President Wilson takes over the rail
| roads. he will bring under Federal
control at first only the trunk roads
principally those OF the Pittsburgh
Chicago. st. Louis sections and of New
England. These are the vital systems
in the operation for the war emcr-
gency. as through them moves the
greater part of all the munitions and
supplies for the allies.
APPOINTMENT OF TRAFFIC.
DICTATOR INEVITABLE
On the same authority, IL is said to-
night that the appointment of a traffic
adminiStrator--or transportation dicta-
i tor--ls inevitable.
The name of Franklin Is. Lane, Sec
| rotary of the Interior. was suggested
! as the most probable man for the post.
1 Secretary Lane when chairman OF the
| Interstate Commerce Commission, eX-
hbitcd remarkable grasp over large
| problems. He has been more than ia
milar with tho railroad stua ton.
Moreover he is particularly interested
in the proposal for the development
OF the waterways to their maximum, as
a parallel agent for the railroads.
Immediate relief must come. 1t is
pointcd out that to obtain tho best
measure OF service, man must be
chosen for the Dictatorship" who will
be out OF the railroad circle. He must
be big enough 10 set aside the indi-
y;dual demands Of the various railroads
and to subordinate every particular cry
for priority that will work harm to
tho general movement of freight.
President Wilson has signined his
belief that not only railroads, but other
systems of transportation must be
looked TO.
Tho whole crux OF congestion lies on
tho railroads OF the "northeas stern
I. quarter" of the country, it was en-
plained.