The Glenwood post., 1918-09-07
Payne and Carlton Exchange Comp|i-
ments and Matter Now Up to Uti|i-
ties Board Which Does Nothing
GUESS WHAT WILL Be next

ing for the retention of any road
which has heretofore competed for
traffic with railroad definitely re-
tanned by the government, and we
urged not only the retention of the
Midland under the apparently explicit
provisions of the law, but the adjust
ment of the terms and conditions of
such retention as provided in section
3 of said law.
You refused and stated that the road
was worthless to and would not be re-
tanned and operated by the govern
ment. Immediately the owners of the
property paid nearly $25O,OOO of out
standing Indebtedness, and receiver
for the company was appointed. Upon
petition by the receiver showing the
financial condition of the company and
that the daily losses exceeded $500,
the court ordered the receiver to dis
continue operating the road on August
5, sell the property and pay the com.
pany's Indebtedness. Late in July you
wired the governor, the Judge of the
court and the public utilities commis-
sion an offer to take over the property
for the apparent purpose of influencing
local authorities to prevent the discon-
tinuance of the road and compel us to
continue operations at a loss. You
have full power to accomplish this by
taking the road under the law.
Your telegram of August 81 is the
first and only communication from you
received by me since the date of re-
linquishment. Within the past few
days we understand from press reports
that Director General McAdoo has
wired the public utilities commission
stating that the government will guar
antee the return of the road in its
present physical condition, and as your
telegram provides for the payment of
operating losses and the application Of
the wage schedule as promised en-
ployes in bulletin issued early in the
year, three very important questions
are apparently settled. Why not now
agree that the road shall be retained
and further details, such as deductions
from the rental for improvements and
betterments; the return of the propery
with its traffic restored; compensation,
ETC., be determined by a commission of
three appointed by the interstate com
merce commission and court of claims,
as provided by law?
A. E. CARLTON.
Thus far Mr.. Payne has not made
answer to Mr.. Cartoons suggestions,
and what that answer will be is only n
matter of speculation. Price Sloss has
returned from Washington and he
gives as his opinion that the Midland
will not be junked. Merle d. Vincent
Of Grand Junction, who was elected to
head the committee, has given like
opinion to the chamber of commerce of
ms WY. AhC h0LuDcIES VI LHo COmuAL-
tee all seem to think tho government
has gone as far as it will go, and that
its offer is fair. They think the matter
is now up to the Colorado Public Util-
i3es commission, which seems to be
asleep, and SO we do not know what
will be the next move, although some
say that Mr.. Cations employees arc
busy right along getting the road ready
for the junkpile.
Mr.. Vincent, who headed the Glen
wood committee sent to Washington,
last Wednesday evening made the fol-
lowing statement to the Grand juno.
ton Chamber Of Commerce:
The committee, upon reaching Wash
ingeon, had . conference with the Col.
orado nenbers Of congress and the st-
torney general Of Colorado. Following
this We net with Mr.. Payne, general
counsel for The railroad administration