The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-22
FULL FEDERAL
CONTROL URGED
Railroad Bill, Says Senator
Lewis, Is Simply a
Forerunner
MEANS TAKING OF ALL
PUBLIC UTILITIES
He Names That as the Great
Issue Of the Next
Campaign

ment control over various public util
titles, and predicted that the question will
be the great domestic issue in the next
presidential campaign.
LET us not deceive ourselves as to the
meaning of this measure" he said. This
is the beginning of the government tax
ing the railroads as a government agen-
cy The roads will never be permitted
To return TO the former state of personal
control for private benefit. At the same
time this country takes over the rail
roads it will take the telegraph and tele-
phone privileges and then the products
for fuel, particularly the lands of coal
aud oil, and put these under government
direction
"AlI agencies of this nature in this re-
public necessary to the public welfare
of man will be taken by the government
as a necessary protection of the repub-
| lie"
The railroads, he declared, had con-
fessed their inability to meet the stua-
tion and by surrendering to the govern
ment admitted that the one power ca
pable to carry on the work, under the
existing conditions, was the government
itself
"The government now conducts the
roads, and directs them, as the proof OF
its power and ability to do So" he as.
serted private ownership OF railroads
failed us for the purpose OF sending sup
plies TO ships or for transport OF soldiers
for foreign service. What would be the
calamity under private ownership if en-
emies were at our gates and in posses
sion OF our country
Let us announce that the United
States is a government and shall assume
governmental responsibility in protect |
ing all public agencies of human welfare |
from being a monopoly of private pill |
lage,'
If this should be done, he added, any |
Bolshevik uprising in the United States |
would be avoided.
Declaring that German propaganda al
ready has succeeded in stirring mp OPP
position to the United States in Russia,
Senator Lewis predicted that if Germany
succeeds in keeping hold on Russia
her first act will be to urge Russia TO
seize Alaska
This presents to us the very severe
problem of the day" said he. THE day
is ahead of us when the United States
will also be compelled to fight for Ha
wall and the Philippines. Unless means
are taken to provide for the prompt
of troops and supplies
across the continent, which could be ac-
aLnI hxy two mt I,,op fuI psny
eminent owned carrier, we will find our
selves powerless to protect these posses
sions.
Because / see the necessity for gov
eminent roads for national defense,
concede now the necessity of this bill
With all the evils opponents have claimed
It would cause, the evils are small com
pared to the good that would come from
these government operated roads"
Human events, Senator Lewis said, are
changing forms of government, with
state powers rapidly disappearing. He
predicted the time would come when
,nly municipal and federal governments
would remain.
"Times and events seem to be repeal
ng the United States constitution" he
aid
Senator King of Utah eontended that
the government attempted
osts more than If undertaken by private
interests. That was denied by Senator
Johnson of California, who referred to :
he Panama canal.
Il file a plea, as an offset, of Hog m
sland against the Panama canal" inter OF
upted Senator Sherman of Illinois. The al
'anama canal is the only instance
now where the taxpayer has not been ra
kinned to the bone" nj
The Hog island situation replied m
enator johnson, resulted not from the g,
oveinment doing the work but because OF
reat financial interests and the great q
iptans of finance were doing the work III
nder government contract. You can't p.
,mpare the Panama canal TO Hog is at
nd" er
Senator johnson OF South Dakota IN
rged his amendment providing for an It
definite period of government control
fter the war He favored government ID
as a step toward solution of ~
lie labor problem and to stabilize val iel
IS. III
Senator Hardwick said Senator Smith M
South Carolina in charge of the bill. III
ould introduce an amendment to in =
ire short lines not taken over by the :
,vernment the same treatment as the /
rye systems. |
At the end of the speechmaking. the
mate was ready to begin consideration
amendments. The principal ones pro-
,sed to reduce the rate of compensation. /
the time for government control to
definite period after the proclamation
peace, aud concerned whether the
esident or the interstate commerce
mmission should make rates.
Opposition to the House draft OF the
II, particularly its provisions for COM
nssting the roads, determining rates
d fixing the period of government re- |
ntion after the war. was voiced yester. |
Y by Representative Esch of Wiscon- |
J. ranking Republican member Of the
erstate commerce committee Speak |
Z for the minority of the committee.
declared the proposed rate Of com
nsation too high. that the power to
tiate rates should rest with the in
state commerce commission rather
IN with the president. that the roads
luld b. returned to their owners in
E year or less after the proclamation
peace. instead OF two wears a. pro
sed BY the House bill.
Owners Of cur railroads he said
louid be content to receive a guaranty
payment Of al fixed charges. inelui-
operating expenses. taxes and inter
and regular dividends on outstand-
sticks. Any surplus above such pav-
ut ought either 20 70 10 the coTern- i