The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-12
Roads War Board to Enter
Formal Protest Against
Federal Operation.
THEN WILL OFFER AID
Aim Is to Obtain Plan That
Will Protect In.
veStOrS.
ENGLISH STEP FAVORED
Pre.War Year Basis Would
Give Roads SO Per Cent.
Return.
ENGLISH STEP FAVORED
speciol Despo,cA to The SrS.


WASHINGTON, Dee 11.-Prcsident
Wilson has an appointment to meet
members Of the Railroads War Board
st the White House at 2:20 tomorrow
afternoon. The appointment was made
to-day at the solicitation Of the railroad
executives and upon the meeting may
hinge the future OF the railroads.
A long session Of the Cabinet was
held to-day, but at its conclusion no
more information was forthcoming 20
Indicate to the railroad presidents who
are here the details of the plan for the
Government control Of the roads the
President Ia known to have In mind.
In reply to inquiries made at the
White House to-day the President sent
out word that hc had the railroad prob
lem under the. most careful scrutiny
and consideration" and that II he should
conclude that change from the present
method of control was necessary he
would feel Obliged to make his views
Arst known to Congress
Railroad Heads Concern.
The best information the railroad men
have is that IL will be several days be-
fore the President completes hts message
on the subject. That he will ask Con-
gress for legislation authorizing him to
take over the roads Is no longer Ques-
toned and the concern Of the railroad
executives II directed to obtaining a
plan that, in their opinion; will lf"xnof6
the best protection for the owners Of the
railroad securities.
/. was with this idea IN mind that the
members Of the Railroad War Board.
rot having been invited TO 60 over 'Nc
situation with Mr. Wilson called uT' the
White House and asked tina; the o.por-
unity be given them TO discuss the mat
ter with the President. Tho members
~ this hoard are Fairfax Harrison,
Howard Elliott, Hale Holden. julius
Kruttschnitt and Samuel Rea.
Commissioner Clark Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission and Daniel Will
lard Of the Council OF National Defence
are ex-oficio members.
The members OF the board are not
going to the White House In n beliig-
e.ent spirit On the contrary, they are
going to offer their hearty and thorough
cooperation IN the carrying out of any
clsn which the President may feel is in
frrtherance of the main object OF all at
he present time, namely. to win the
var.
Il was decided to-day at conferences
- which railroad executives partici-
rated with the members of the War
ooa-i 10 present TO the President a
wore or iess formal protest against the
control Of the roads passing from the
lands Of their present managers. The
railroad presidents believe tia, they can
rsacy much better than the Government
n Vrln
importation and they will take ad-
Fantage Of this meeting to tell the
resident 80 In person.
To offer Their Services.
Having made this protest they viii
then tell him Of their desire to do all
they can 10 win the war and will offel
their services to him. They will la.
stress upon the fact that they are IL
effect the trustees OF almost 100000,
"'o. 400 worth cs property invested n ths
'1ii"ays and that naturally they fee
concerned over the protection that is Il
ne afforded tho owners OF their prop
erty. They would prefer-and thil
t'ey will also tell the Prcsident-tha
'ae Government would not disturb thu
rol Il may adopt.
The railroad heads In the conference,
curing the day went over various planl
and expressed approval generally Of thu
english plan of Government control un
der which the earnings of the roads ar,
guaranteed on the basis Of the pre-wa
year, This plan they will advocate be
lore the President If. as they fully ex
pect, he shall disclose his intentions I,
take over their roads.
II the English plan were followed ..
Mt far voI
'oad men point out that II would no
Wor" ont AZ all badly for the roads. II
Iels, which presumably would be tn
Pfe'"ar year for American roads, tn
return was 5.s per cent. on the cost o
roans and equipment. placed at $l7.5ob.
10000. But In 1915 IL was only 1.
nof cent. and In 1914 4.1s per cent. g.
mar II three year average were takel
would include two bad years an,
only one good year. a four year aver
aye nowever. would include the goo
year OF 1913, when the return was 5.l