Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-13
NOACT|ON
ON R.R. PROBLEM
BY TH|SCONGRESS
Leaders See Reasons for Do
ing the Work We'll, Rather
Than Quickly.

with a warning that unless there is
prompt legislation regarding the dis
posal of, the railroads they will be
turned back to their private owners fol
operation, there is likely to be no de.
termination at this session.
There is not time, for one reasoD.
Members of Congress feel that there are
more big reasons for doing the job right
than for doing 1t quickly.
Extension Of the life Of the so-called
Newlands committee with instructions
to study this question and make the
earliest possible Recommendations and
then for the President to call an extra
Sc ssion especially for railroad legisla-
tion. seems to be the solution favored
by leaders on each side Of both House
and Senate. 'e.; <.
President Wilson's Warning.
- On the opening day. Of the session the
President said: = 'fs- ~
81 stand ready and am anxious to re-
lease the roads from the present control,
and I must do 80 at a very early date. -
etc. -
Director General McAdoo in his letter
asking Congress to extend the govern
ment control and operation for five years
said:
'.Unless this is done do not hesitate
to say the railroads should be returned
to private ownership at the earliest pos
sible moment. The President has given
me permission to say that this conclu-
sion accords with his own view on the
matter"
Democratic leaders in Congress ad-
nit that it is almost impossible to get
any legislation through in this ses-
sion about which there is any dtvi-
sion. They realize that there would
be a very serious division over the
railroad question.
View Of Republican Leaders.
Republican leaders say that the Nc
Adoo proposal opens up the entire
question Of future policy Of the gov
ernment regarding the railroads.
affecting government ownership.
financing, federal regulations, unff1ca-
ton, pooling, rates. the salary sched-
ule, etc. They do not want to pass
upon these subjects hastily and with
out extensive testimony.
meanwhile Dotn HouSeb nave tnelr
time mortgaged to passage of the
revenue bill and thirteen appropria-
tion bills and the possibility of having
to put through peace conference legis-
lation. The leaders say there would
not be time. physically, for, railroad
legislatio
At the same time democrats and re-
publicans alike look forward with
trepidation to any attempt by the ad-
ministration to throw the railroads
back into private ownership. control
and operation without having first
passed legislative safeguards. Dur
ing government control and opera
tion the entire system Of railroading
has been changed.
hauls taken from them. Their
freight solicitors have been Topped
off. They would go back to private
operation with decreased traffic and
increased expenses, which they could
not carry. Many. therefore, would be
forced into bankruptcy.
1t was to guard against such a con-
tingency that the statutory time limit
was put into the present law. The
bill as reported by Chairman Sims, as
urged by Mr.. McAdoo and approved by
President Wilson fixed no time limit
The House provided a limit of two
years, the Senate changed this to
eighteen months and the two houses
in conference made 1t twenty-one
months. Therefore. Congress, having
considered this question with delibera-
ton and having set a time limit, is
surprised that there should be such
an early demand for an extension to
five years.
Federal Ownership Looms Up.
Tbe republfcan n,emhars ,a> ~ at.
an attempt toward government own
ership. and the republican party has
persistently gone on record as opposed
to government ownership. This one
question alone would signal a hard
fight and delay passage of any deter
minative legislation at this session.
The only hope Of the democrat t.
eager to carry through the desires o1
the administration. is that q senttInenj
In favor of the McAdoo proposal ~
be aroused among the railroad exec
utives and the owners Of stocks And
ment guarantee that they will get for
ave years revenues based on the aver
age for the three best years they ever
had
what seems like the most workable
plan is being urged by leaders on
both sides. This Is to put through q
resolution extending the life of the
some time been engaged in Investigate
ing all phases of railroad operation
with special instructions to make 3
special study Of the present situation
and recommend legislation which
seems to best meet tho situation. This
iOint committee has already. taken .ex-
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