Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-25
RAILWAY OWNERSHIP
LEFT OPEN IN BILL
BEFORE CONGRESS
CLAUSE IN PROVISIONS FOR FED
ERAL SEIZURE OF STEAM LINES
SAYS RETURN MUST ONLY BE
eY CONGRESSIONAL ACTION.


BY CONGRESSIONAL ACTION.
Washington. Jan. 25.-i'elding to
anti.goyernment ownership sentiment
in Congress. the administration today
drafted substitute for the entire
railroad control measure. Chairman
ssims. of the House interstate com
sinerce committee submitted il 70 The
sHouse
4 clause added 10 section IL. when
sformerly provides thar the roads re
snain in the hands OF the govern
klnent until Congress acts otherwise
"a clause. declares the measure IS
..ntireIy war action. and must not
she construed as affecting a future
apolicy Of ownership or control
Compensation Increased.
1 Numerous other changes are made
sall tending to increase the compensa'
srion allowed the carriers
Despite the concessions, members
sof the House committee where a ma
iority is pledged against any action
Favorable to government ownership.
declared they will insist on a more
.speciiic declaration that government
control shall end with the var or
sshortly thereafter
They believe the preyiso was in
tended by The administration to pre-
vent more drastic declaration by
gthc committee
Simply Stump Speach.
Declaring the attempt would BE-
airuitless. an anti-goyernment owner
ship man termed the proyso simply
On stump speech. and not legislation
Eat all
The new condition added is:
But this act is expressly de-
clared to emergency legislation en-
; acted to meet conditions growing
u cut III wall iHu hptliiiS Htl'li =
. 10 be construed as expressing or
4 prcjudicing the future policy OF the
federal government concerning The
4 ownership, control or regulation or
4 the method or basis of capitaliza-
. ton thereof
This follows directly and qualilie
Elanguaee which says he roads shal
remain in government control unit
the Congress otherwise provided.
Other proposals in the revised bill
gre
= II The President finds that "becaus
Df abnormal conditions" the three
near average is unfair he may make
i separate agreement for larger pa,
llonls
May Appeal from Allowance.
All adjustments necessary because
OF impOsslbiliy of making such agree
hients TO be made BY special board
Of referees appointed by the Interstal,
Commerce Commission
Roads also are provided an appea
2 to the court of claims if they thin
payments are inadequate
Payments may be increased by al
lowing the roads interest on all in
anropements they make while they ar,
under federal control
Il The new draft proposes also tha
all employees may come under tn,
tGedefal workmon's compensation act
Representatives Of the brotherhood
protested this clause today on the
ground that the present condition i
more favorable 10 them.
Short Lines Cut Out.
The status OF short lines is lef
unchanged they are out OF the sys
stem, unless they prove their essen
iialty and are expressly taken in.
Committeeman impression i, tha
Director McAdoo submitted the new
Hbtll--draIted by Interstate Commerc,
Commissioner Anderson 10 assure
speedior action
II seemed doubtful however. if tho
new draft would prove satisfactory &
aniig0vcmment ownership men, wht
declare they will stand for no loor
hole likely to lead to permanent pos
session