Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-28
To Ask Congress
For r evision
Of Payment
Plan
WAGES WILL BE RAISED
tFrona The Courier Bureau.1

From The Courier Bueau1
Washington, D. c., Dec. T.-Presi-
/ dent Wilson's guarantee to the rafl-
roads of return on stock equivalent
to the average for the three years pre-
ceding June 80, 1917, will be the sab
ject of a bitter fight in congress, it Is
Indicated today. Senator Cumnains
probably will lead the opposition, hay.
| ing announced today that he VIII urge
congress to fix different scale Of
compensation than that recommended
by the president
SEES BIG COST.
Senator Cummins declares the plan
of President Wilson win give fat re-
turns to big railroad companies and
little or nothing to the weaker ones.
He predicts that the small roads win
go to the courts and force a higher
allowance.
! find itself compelled to pay not less
than $1,000 100000 year for the use
of the roads instead of $940, ,ODo. 900.
as the white house plan is said to
Indicate
25 PER CENT FOR a."
'On its face" he said today, "the
pI Io6I Gill vi IhC ~ NSAOSAAt SoASSAhplhS0o
that the stockholders of the Burling-
turn on their investments, but the
! Chicago Great Western would pay not
smoTt tn s1r 2 gar cent. sThess
small systems over the cou1try
RAISE WAGES; CUT SALARIES.
IRy Tho Associated fPreeeS
Washington, d. c., Dec. 27.-One Of
the first acts of the government in be-
ginning operation of railroads will be
to reduce large salaries now paid tc
the railroad executives and increase
! in some measure the wages Of the rail.
way workers.
Preliminaries for actual taking over
Of the railroads by the government
at noon tomorrow moved forward
swiftly today and overshadowed all
other war activities in the capital
Although approved by the great ma
jority of railroad men, there was some
disposition toward criticism In CON.
gress. principally on the ground thai
the government proposed to allow the
railroads too much but everythl08
| was prepared for enacting necessary
| legislation soon after the president
explains the situation in an address to
congress soon after the holiday recess
Is over.
SEE WiDENED SCOPE.
Many members of the house and
senate predicted that the step was
only the beginning Of government
operation and control and that Il
would soon extend to telegraph and
telephone lines. II not, indeed to tho
distribution Of life's necessartes.
| President Wilson conferred with
the heads of four great railway broth
erhoods today. 1t appeared probable
that the latest demand for increases
in pay will be handled by committee
Of managers to be appointed BY MI.
McAdoo.
BILLS IN PREPARATION.
The interstate commerce com1n3k
tees in congress began q survey d
the legislation they win prepare to
carry the presidents plans into effect
Securities to be issued while the
government is in control, WIN be at
! interest rates not less than per cent
and the issues will be made under
Joint authority Of the director general
! and the interstate commerce com
mission.
BUY BONDS AND EQUIPMENT.
I, President Wilson, when he outlines
the governments plans in his forth
coming address to congress, VIII ask
that the government be empowered
! to buy any quantity of new railroad
securities. All earnings over and
above an amount to be agreed upon
will go to the government.
Congress will be asked also to ap-
propriate large fund-probably 5000
Ooo, 900 for the immediate supply of
/ rolling stock to handle the flood OF
traffic which has swamped the roads.
+. The director general will have
authority to decide whether the gov
ernment shall also assume operation
and control OF the express com pantes.5
MAY APPEAL TO COURTS.
President Wilson will recommend to
congress that the railroads be guaran-
teed the average net income OF tho
three years ending June 30. 1917, but
any railroad may abide by its constitu-
tional right and refuse to accept this
basis OF compensation. In that case
the question will pass to an arbitratfng
body, the precise nature of which Is to
be determined by congress.
The equipment fund will also be
used to pay any deficit OF earnings
this year under the pre-war average
L 81, f,apf off