Evening star., 1918-12-03
ADDRE|%BR|NGS'" =
D|v|DE9QRNI|)1
President Disappoints Mass:
at capitcl, .But Soma De-
tend Course. 80
0. K. STAND on RAILROADS

%. K. STAND on RAILROADS
At the Capital today the. tve prevail.
/ ing views upon President Wilson's 'ads
dress expressed disappointment I'm
some quarters and explanation in otlc:
ers. This was outside Of the strictly.
partisan comment which, Of course.
was adulatory from democratic sources
and coAdemnatcry from republican. -
Unquestionably the mass Of tenn
perate. fair-nindsd sentiment about
the address reflected a feeling OF dis
appointment In that he had not told
the Congress what that BODY vAs -
sirous Of knowing and what most OF
Its members felt they were entitled
to know. This was not necessarily By
way OF criticism: It was what ting
word neutrality-suspicious.
Action Seen as Wise. = =.
On the other hand. apologists for the
President contended that he was 5usti-
fed in Withholding disclosure of his
plans for the peace table: that he had
outlined In q bread way what be was.
going over seas to fight for. and that
It would be premature, ana unwfse to
give away" In advance ell hte -Argu-
mentA Moreover. that he would nave
to be guided in some degree BY DE-
velopments a. they arose. ~
Analyzing the Presidents message.
after they had read it in type. sope
Of the statesmen on the hill .foAnds
that the President had not taken
decided and affirmative stand practi-
cally on anything nor denned any
carefully outlined plan Of procedure
| in domestic affairs. especially as 10
the problems of reconstruction BE.
did make some relatively minor -def-
mite recommendations; he uphela 9he
contention of the democrats of the
Senate finance committee that tue
Ipending revenue bill should proyiue
for the year 1890 as well as 1917. ana.
bespoke favorable action upon ahs,
Ifavoring trade conditions for Belgium:
and northern France and supporteo,
the naval program Of this country,.-:
Regarding Rsconstruetion.
Rsconstruetion problems he whistlcd
down the wind. 1t was complained to-
day. He summed up comment on this
/
peace footing promises to outrun any
| inquiry that may be instituted and
any aid that may be offered 1t. viii
not be easy to direct II Sny assssE,
lean business man il of quick tnitia-s'
tive" He thus left reconstruction up
| to business itself, it was said.
| Disposition of the railroads now in
the federal grasp he tossed into tn;
bear pit of Congressional contention
contenting himself with the sugges--
| tion. twice emphasized that IL Con
gress did not, do something soon he
would release the roads to their own.
ers of record and to private manage
| ment. 80 1f
| This was interpreted to mean that
! the President holds that this Congress4
placed the railroads under fedsRah
control and that this Congress should:
| that II this is not done by March ~
| when the present Congress expifNsSS
| the railroads win ultimately be m.
leased by executive order to private
| the responsibility for any confusion
\ or disaster that may result.
o. K. Attitude as to Railroad. =
There was no particular criticism.
of the Presidents course as to thtS
| railroads. His friends thought he did
the wise thing in not essaying to die
l
disposition Of the railroads, To be
sure. 1t was said, he has not heea,
| FOUND wanting in suggestive action fo'
| Congress In the past on some subjects
purely within the legislative domain.
! and holding the Congress to compli
ance. but in this instance the Presi..
dent frankly avowed that he had, no.
solution OF the problem to recommend: ::
| Let me say at once that I have no
| answer ready" he said. referring -fE
| the question of what should be dont:
| with the railroads in the interest orr
the public and in fair play to theovtss-,
| ers. =.
| He suggested an Intermediate
1 course between outright government
ownership and absolute nrivate con-
! troll, but In way as broad as the
; continent itself and within tn, boun-
daries Of which Congress can range
the welfare Of the railroads and the
public. -
Has Sympathy Of Congress. :. !.
! Congressman were inclined to syae-
pathize with the President's,pn pncers
! tainty over solution Of the railreatl
| problem. inasmuch as they them.
selves are in state OF fn9ertifude
| either as body or political parties
with widely varying individual yjeMs !.
though titu,ar head Of the dem ocratfc::
party. carefully avoided laying down
| anything that might be co7str"ed as
democratic party policy with respect
| to the railroad question. :.
| Careful reading of his closing para. :.
! graph. In which he suggested more
unified and affirmative public reeula-
tion (under possible private control)r
avoidance Of wasteful competition
and combination Of roads within
definable areas. encouraged advocates
Of railway pooling to hope tha' ad-
/ vance may be made in this direction.
The lessons of federal control. It is
| contended by many observers IN Con :.
gress have proven the advantage sof.
modified and controlled pooling, = :
It was said at the Capitol toqaS-
!. that the railroad problem win be-
taken up at once for stndv. but >thare
is little hope of concluding. t. be-
tween now and March I. Ii. is on.
tirely too big and complicated. Th e:
Presidents fptimation that Il Con :!
Kress does not act he WIFI turh The:
roads back to private management e
was held to have been more OF tan.
| admonition to quick action thar a =
threat. The President in his own,
words told how detrimental. II would
| be to the country to turn the roads
| Ia ek sto the old conditions uumodi-s-