The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-04
RUSHING R. R.
CONTROL BILL
Measure to Limit Govern
ment's Term Goes to Both
Houses This Week
AMENDMENTS FIX
DIFFERENT PERIODS
Rates of Compensation Will
Not BE Changed by Con-
gressional Measure

Washington, Feb 1.-The administra
tion railroad bill limiting the period OF
government control of the railroads and
providing for compensation 10 stoekhold-
ers will be reported 10 both houses of
Congress next week. At the urgent re-
quest of Director General MeAdoo. ad.
ministration leaders will make every eff
fort to expedite passage of the measure.
/ The Senate interstate commerce com
mite voted Saturday to report the meas
ure favorably Monday with amendments
| limiting government control to Is months
after the close of the war and giving the
president power to initiate rates subject
to appeal to the interstate commerce
commission. The committees action was
not unanimous, Senators Cummins and
La Toilette, Republicans, announcing
that they would submit minority re.
ports.
The House committee, by vote of 10
To Q, approved an amendment providing
for termination OF government control
two years after peace Is declared. Chair
man Sims later announced that his com
mittee would complete consideration OF
the measure Tuesday or Wednesday and
that he would ask unanimous consent
for its immediate passage,
Four amendments TO limit the time of
government control were offered in the
House committee. One, by Representa-
tive Esch, fixed the time at one year
after the war, another, by Representa-
tive Barclay, at three years, third by
Representative Parker at Is months and |
the fourth by Representative Montague |
at two wears
Chairman Sims vigorously opposed the
two years limitations as adopted, declar-
ing that it would affect the value of rail-
road securities. Representative Mon
tague insisted that at least two years
would be required for the railroad inter
ests to adjust themselves after the war.
Those voting for the two-year amend
ment were Montague, Rayburn, Coady,
DewaIt, Shook, Sanders, Esch, Hamilton,
Parker of New Jersey, Parker of New
York. Winslow, Dillon, Sweet, Stiness
md Cooper and those voting against it
we're Sims. Doremus, Stephens, Barkley,
Decker and Dale.
The Senate committee left unchanged
he original provision in the bill fixing
he rate of compensation on the basis of
he annual railway operating income for
he three years ending on June 30, 1917,
md the House committee also is expect II
d to agree to this provision, which was
uggested by the president
Amendments forbidding increased com
ensation to roads based on their earn
ags or surplus accrued during the period
I government control and put into the ,,
roperty were accepted. The section au-
horizing the president to purchase and
onstruct canals was amended so as to
ermit only of their utilization.
The section providing for an appro- t
ration of $500 100000 to be used as a +
evolving fund from which to pay any i
eficiencies that may result or to pro-
ide for additional facilities was retained :.
Y the Senate committee. The fund !.
ould provide the government with
orking capital for the operation OF the =
lads. n
In providing for the termination of
lvernment control Is months after the s
ar, the Senate committee further n
nended the bin so as to authorize the n
resident, if in his opinion necessity for :
lrther control should terminate, to re- ?
nquish supervision over all roads before y
at time. Discretionary power to de-
rhine up to July |, 1918, what roads 6
e necessary in the government opera
IN plan also is placed III the president. lo
1t after that time he could not exclude "
road from government control without o,
consent. q,
The amendment authorizing the presi
mt to Indicate rates permits appeal ~
her by the carrier or shipper to the q
terstate commerce commission, which "
to investigate and determine their al
irness. This section. and the one fixing CT
e time Of government control were bit to
rly debated in the committee, and, ow
Z to the wide differences, an adjourn az
mt was effected only after the ques IA
ms had been submitted to a sub.com !.
ttee. :"