The Glenwood post., 1918-08-31
MIDLAND MUDDLE
STILL UNCERTAIN
McAdoo Will Make No Fur.
ther Concessions and
Refuses Arbitration
THE GOVERNOR DoDGEs

There is nothing new under the sun
in regard to the Midland muddle, at
least nothing that is tangible and as
suring. The committee appointed at the
Glenwood meeting to confer with Sec
retary McAdoo has presented our
claims, apparently to no purpose and,
so far as we can see, we are as far as
ever from solution of the problem.
In regard to the matter Congressman
Taylor has sent us the following tele-
gram:
Washington, Aug. 2s.
The Midland committee had verv
full discussion and extended hearing
before Director General McAdoo and
General Counsel Payne this forenoon.
MIR. McAdoo refuses to make any fur
ther concessions than have before been
offered. He insists that the govern
ment does not need the road at all, but
that Colorado does need it and ought
not permit it to be junked. He is send
ing quite positive and significant tel
egram to both the governor and public
utilities commission, renewing the offer
to retake the road ad run it during the
war, and assume and pay all losses
from the first of January, as well as
in the future, and pay the owners
100000 year in actual cash, without
~ string on it, and not make any.
betterments in the way of depots or
anything else that is not imperatively
necessary to run the road on practically
any expenditure that the owners would
not in fairness agree to.
I, the Midland committee and also
the Colorado delegation in congress and
Attorney General Hubbard, who is
here, will all three send separate ur-
gent additional kilograms. The federal
government will not go any further.
EDWARD T. TAYLOR.
The Associated Press says the follow
ing about the meeting and the report
made by Director McAdoo:
Denver, Aug. 29.-The state utilities
commission this afternoon gave out the
following message from Director Gen
eral McAdoo and the reply the com
mission made. The governors office
announced it was letting the commits.
sion handle the matter.
Mr.. McAdoo telegraphed
l have. carefully considered the argu-
ments made today by Senators Shat
roth, Smoot and Thomas, Congressme en-
Taylor and Timberlake, the attorney
general and a committee of Colorado
citizens, who have presented the case
of the Colorado Midland.
An act of congress contemplates the
government will pay the average net
income for three years ending June 80,
1917. The Colorado Midland under this
standard rule, is entitled to receive
only $4,000 year. The offer, there.
fore, of 100000 net to the owners, to
absorb operating losses back to Janu.
ary l, 1918, to operate and maintain
the road and equipment and return the
same to the owners at the end of the
federal contract in as good condition
as received, gives the fullest amount
allowable in effect to all the special cir
cumstances which I am permitted to
consider under the statute and is an
exceedingly liberal offer.
It nets the owners s per cent upon
the entire amount claimed by them to
b invested in property. Having made
this offer, the government has done all
it can or should do in my opinion, and
the future responsibility for the con-
tinued operation of the road must rest
With the owners Of the property and
the authorities of the state of Colorado.
The public utilities conmission re-
Piled to Mr.. NcAdoo's telegram a.
follow.
Your telegram Of Aug. 20 received.
The commission and the people Of Col.
orsdo cannot understand the failure Of
the United States railroad administrs,
tioA,, 70 submit the question Of com.
psnsation Tor the Colorado Midland
railroad in the manner provided by >
federal act for determination Of com-
pensation, when the government snd