The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-21
RAILROAD BILL
BEFORE CONGRESS
Big win the War" Measure
Given Finishing Touches
Today With Debate and
Amendments.
MAY PASS TT THIS WEEK
No Doubt Of Measure Going Through,
and Few Changes In It
Arc Expected by
Administration.
MAY PASS TT THIS WEEK

w Van 49, SA' ~N~>~
the outstanding features Of the rail-
road bills now the center or con-
gressional attention:
The supreme rate making power
given to the president by the house
bill and to the interstate commerce
commission by the senate measure.
Limitation of federal control to
two years after the war by the house
! bill. and eighteen months by the
senate.
Compensation on the basis of the
net operating income of the last three
years.
increase facilities.
Roads to be taxed as heretofore.
Not exempt from excess profits tax
Finishing Touches Today.
[By L.. c. Martin. United Press STAN
Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21--Congress
today put the finishing touches on
the railroad control bill-the hrst
bie win the war" measure to be
passed at this session.
The senate began voting on amend
ments with strong hope OF getting
final vote on the bill itself tonight.
From two .. m. today debate will be
limited. Senator Lewis, Illinois, is
the only senator with set speech
to make. Debate and disposition OF
the large number of amendments Will
take many hours, with five and ten
minute speeches on each.
Senator Cummins has nearly a
dozen amendments, designed to re-
duce compensation to the railroads,
and to define governmental powers
more specifically than the committee
bill. Senator Townsend OF Michigan
has offered q complete substitute
hill while a score of other changes
will be sought. There is no doubt
the bill will be passed and Senator
Smith of South Carolina, who has
charge of it, predictes today it will
not be greatly amended.
The house will end general debate
on the measure and began consider
ing it under a five minute rule.
Prospects for its passage this week
are bright. The conference between
the two houses should take but few
days and indications today were that
President Wilson will get the measure
for signature late next week.
Meantime preparations went on
apace to speed up other war meas
ures. Secretary Of the Treasury Nc
Adoo is rewriting several provisions
of the war finance corporation bill
covering exceptional cases and will
return the measure to the finance
committee today.
Senator Overman's subcommittee
took up the empowering bill this
morning, hoping to agree on 1t.
Empowering Bill.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.--The sub
committee of the senate judiciary
committee voted three to two to
report favorably the empowering bill
designated to give President Wilson
authority to slash red tape in the
war government. Senators Overman,
Nelson and Fletcher voted for the
favora BILE report, with Senators Reed
and Dillingham; against 1t.
The committee amended the bill in
several particulars, but did not
change it's purpose, that Of giving the
president broad powers Of reorganiz-
ing governmental agencies in prac-
tically any way he may see fit for
more effective prosecution Of the
war. Only two amendments limit In
any way his power. One eliminates
the authority originally conferred for
creation Of new agencies without con-
sressional action. The other provides
that appropriations heretofore made
for any executive department shall
be spent only for the purpose for
which appropriated and not made
available as general fund for all
departments.
=
Cutting Down Trains.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-Through
passenger service between New
York and Chicago will soon be limited
to one fast train each way, day and
night, 1t was officially stated today, at
the railroad administration offic
here.
This marks the Inauguration of a
nation wide clipping of fast passenger