The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-01-05
SAFEGUARDS PROVIDED
Necessity for Unification Of
Properties Without Dis
elimination Outlined.
LENGTH OF CONTROL OPEN
Heavy Penalties Proposed for
Impeding "Usc. Opera
tiOn or Control"
Special Despatch to THE stN.

( W AsHINGrON, Jan. a.-AsSerttn2 that
he had taken over the railroads OF the
country because the public welfare
made 1t an imperative necessity, Pres
ident Wilson in his railroad message to
Congress to-day. which took him only
ten minutes TO deliver. outlined in gen.
eral terms the legislation which he
thought Congress should pass to make
his plan effective and just and equi-
table to the owners of the railroads
/ The recommendations made were for
an unqualified guarantee that railroad
properties be maintained by the Gov
crnment In as good repair as at pres.
ent, and the granting by Congress OF
such compensation to the roads -
would he Equitable alike to tkeir
owners and TO the general public.
The President renewed tho suggestion
made in his proclamation that this bs
based on the average net operating in
come for the three years ended June
80. 1917.
Immediately after the Presidents ad-
dress bills to carry out his recommertlt-
revolving fund of 100000 OOo is to 10
| provided from which any deficiency re-
sulting from operation will he made good
and ample means will be in hand to run
the ORGANIZATIONS Maintenance and up
keep will be covered from the same fund
during the period of Federal operation.
Action to Preclude Strikes.
One significant section Of the propose
lawprovides heavy penalties for impeding
possession, uac. operation ~nr control
OF the roads; this will preclude strike,
All advances of money for loans to the
roads or for betternents are TO be ,e-
!mburscd to the Government
The bill was introduced in the Vousr
by Chairman Sims of the Interstate
I tommerc" Committee and in tho Senate
by Senator Smith of South Carolina
, The measures will be considerei in com
mittce on Monday
; In his address the President paid a
tribute To the patriotic zeal Of the mem
h"rs OF the Railroads War Board. hut
said tnat IL had become plain that only
under Government administration could
unihcaton he brought about without
injurious discrimination against par,ic-
ular properties"
What was generally regarded as a
reassuring feature Of the message wa,
the stress laid by the President ON the
necessity of sound financial conditions.
III Is an obligation of public conscience.
and public honesty" said the President,
'that the private interests We disturb
should be kept safe from unjust injury"
Comment Generally Favorable.
While comment on both sides was xcu-
orally favorable to the Presidents mes
sage. tho conservative element heng
especially pleased with its general tenor
tN..-
tendency toward greater radicalism
than the message had porteuded
While the President made NO mention
IN his message Of the extension Of Gov
ernment operation beyond the close It
tho war the railroad bill contained pros
vision for an indefinite extension
OF this control II was forecast IN
THE SrS that this provision would
be included, and It is known to hava
been prepared by the Administration
officials who prepared the bulk Of tho bill,
Around this feature of tho hill the
d, greatest fight is expected TO centre. the
faction in Congress opposing Govern
ment control insisting that the extension
OF Government operation OF the railroads
beyond the end of the war should he linn
! tied to definite period. Six months
and a year have been suggested as tho
| time for this extension. after which the
roads would be returned to private own-
| ershp.
| In the indcfnite controI ,dvoca,cd hv
! the radical members and ,yjda,,,,,
| hacked bv tho Administration co,s,rv,
| ,iyes SEQ tho hegiuninp of ,b, .,ro,v ~
cyentua, Government ownorshin Of ,hs
| railroads Tho ,aryuaoo Of IN, nroyi
sion in the bill is innocent enough. provld-
| ing merely that the railroads shall re-
| main under ,.overnment onnr,tiou at,.,
tho end Of IN, war c,erp,nry un,,,
| conpress deems u proncr ,o re,urr .he
roads again TO their owners.
|