The sun., 1918-01-08
FIGHT ON TO END
ROADS CONTROL
AT TWAR'SCLOSE
Two Amendments Designed
to Limit Federal Opera
tiOn Offered in Senate.
DEMAND BY REPUBLICANS
Their Opposition to Indefinite
ness Of Section 13 Has
Democratic Support.
Special Despatch to TuE SuS.

WASHINGTON. Jan. IA conccntra.
ton Of Republican strength in the SEN
ate In opposition to tho enactment Of
any bill insuring Government operation
OF the railways as a war measure which
does not fix the period Of the post-bellun
| termination Of such arrangement is
assured
This IS accepted 10 mean in legislative
circles that unless President Wilson and
Drector-Gcneral McAdoo will relinquish
their presen; position IN favor Of the
indeterminate language OF section IL
| fight.
The Republican position was defined
| In the Senate to-day when Senator Wat
son undiana) introduced an amendment
to th. Sims-Smith bill providing for the
| restoration to private control OF the
railway properties six months from the
date OF the procla Of peace"
Along with the amendment came another
amendment drafted by Senator CALM
ger Of New Hampshire providing that
Federalized control shall terminate COIN
cidently with the conclusion of state
! Of war.
Democratic sympathiEers.
On the Democratic side Of the chamber
the Republican movement finds many
sympathzers. The subject Is so now as
matter OF concrete legislation that
senitors of neither part: have yet COM
pletely defined their position. but II Is
| estimated that not less. and probably
more. than SO per cent. Of the Re.
publicans will stand by the action Of a
secret conference OF their party on the
subject held last night at which the
Watson amendment received general
| approval
There Is sincere opposition to the per-
nanent liberalization Of the transporta-
ton system OF the United States in evi.
| dence among the Democrats. The action
OF the steering committee OF the Demo.
Gratis to-day in placing Senator Smith
| tSouth Carolina) at the head OF the
Committee on Interstate Commerce ie
accepted as indicative OF an exceedingly
| conservative tendency even In the Pres.
tdsnts own party. The anti-Ciovsrnment
ownership Democrats are believed 70
| ou'number the Democrats disposed to
favor the general proposition.
The opportunity created for a bitter
! contest. is noted on all sides Repub-
| leans point out that II the Dep,ocrats
/ or the Administration group among the
. Democrats make a definite stand IN op-
| position to the amendment Of section l3
| they commit themselves TO the suspicion
that their reason for no. defining the
| period Of the termination o. Federal con-
! troll is based OIL the hope that they will
| be able TO slip over Government control
as n permanent policy either during or
| subsequent to the war.
rnu, n,i.> su-->sSsn-
On the other hand the Republicans
will suggest to their opponents that IL
! the SIX months clause Of the Watson
amendment is not TO their liking and
! they sincerely look on the Sims Smith
! bill az war measure the suggestion
! Of Il longer post bellum period OF Gov
ernment control. year or even eighteen
months. might be accepted as a compro-
mise solution.
Before the Senate Committee on Inter.
state Commerce to-day Alfred p. Thon,
| appeared to open the arguments on the
! railway bill. He contended first that
| the railways would strive to have the
Government assure the security OF their
entire profits for the war period. 1t was
Mr.. Thom's contention that the right 10
dispose Of and retain their profits should
not be taken from the railways regard
less Of whether they were under Federal
control or not. He also urged that in
framing legislation great care should be
taken to determine with Justice and ac-
curacy the value OF the thing the Gov
ernment was taking over
julius kruttschnitt, chairman Of the
executive committee OF the Southern Pa
cific Railway. was the first witness In
troduced by Mr.. Thom. Mr. Kruttschnitt
criticised the selection Of the years 1915
1917 as the basic prewar years for the
calculation OF railway earnings 1t was
his argument that the showing for the
year 1915 was 80 exceedingly bad that
It made the average resultant from the
calculation Of these three years subnor-
NAL.
"It is most unfair to calculate on suc,,
year as 1915" urged Mr. Kruttschnitt
"The guarantee should be based on the
period immediately preceding the war
Capital Requirements Sought.
As the nrst step In Government assist
ancs OF railroad financing. presidents OF
railroads were requested by Interstate
Commerce Commissioner Daniels to-day
to telegraph him Immediately the
amount OF capital required for this
year. especially the frst six months OF
this year.
This action was taken at the direction
Of Director-General McAdoo Railroad
presidents were asked TO detail the pre-
else purposes for which funds will be
needed to meet maturing securities. to
pay for improvements. betterments and
construction work contracted for and
partly finished. Roads were requested
also to show what portion OF improve
ments already started can be stopped
now without detriment
Another item sought by Commissioner
Daniels Ia an approximate estimate OF
capital necessary to provide for new
construction work. improvements and
betterments, including additional termi.
nails and new equipment. Presidents
were asked to specify what part OF theil
financial rA0uirementq durip~ fhts