The Sentinel=record., 1917-12-11
MAY ASK SUSPENSION
 OF WITHHOLDING LAWS
The President Has Not Made Known What His Plans Are to Bring About Maximum Efficiency of the Trans portation Facilities of the Country.

Washington. Dec. 1o.- President Wilson will go before congress for special legislation to bring about uni fication of the railroads during the
 war
 The fact that the president has de- cided definitely on such a move be-
 came known tonight after he had gone
 over the whole transportation .situa-
 ton with Senator Newlands, chairman
 of the senate interstate commerce commiseIon He probably will ask for legislation in his addres before the Christmas holidays. Indications to- night that the president had confided to none his intentions, and officials are doubtful just what he will ask. Some are of the opinion that he might request action on the line of tRe in | terstate commerce commission that antitrust and anti-pooling laws might be suspended during the war. Others pointed out that the commence com missions report also carried the sug- gestion that additional legislation might be needed were the govern ment to decide to take over operation of the roads.
 The presidnt's advisers are divided
 in their views as to what is nece~e
 sary to be done. Most of them, how
 ever, have come out for government
 operation and some of the strongest
 supporters of this proposal declare
 the executive, already under the army
 appropriation act, has the power to
 take over the roads for operation un-
 der an administrator
 The position Of the railroads them selves was set forth today in letter
 to Senator Newlands from Fairfax
 Harrison, chairman of the railroads board The railroads. Mir Harrison declared, do not seek repeal of any legislation believing the co operative use of facilities recently put into op- eration will bring about maximum of fcieney.
 Neither do they seek a loan from
 the government, he said, though gov crnment aid IS asked in obtaining for them on their individual credit new
 capital needed
 Further measures to make the roads
 more efficient, MT Harrison suggested
 would be an increase in rates, priority for transportation of new material, appointment of traffic manager for
 government freight and exemption
 from the draft for railroad employees.
 The railroads opposition to govern ment operation is well understood among officials who have followed the situation but some surprise was ex- pressed tonight at their objection to suspension of provisions against pool ing traffic and profits In the opin- ion of many officials accept CO., ordi- nation of rail systems cannot be ac- cCmDlishcd until th> roads pool their
 traffic which of selffnyolves a pool
 ing of profits
 The advantages in polling have been pointed to as the chief argument for government operation since the gov ernment directing the lines could pool traffic without violating prohibitions imposed now for the protection of the public.
 In its special report to congress made pu1lic q few days ago, the in- terstate commerce commission held
 out two alternatives for relief of the transportation situation One was the suspension of antitrust laws and the other government operation Commissioner McChord in a supple mentary opinion which if has been said since, is approved by other mem hers cmphatically charged govern ment operation as the only remedy.
 Before seeing the president today Senator Newlands held a conference with members of the railroad war