Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-19
Will Control Only Such
Roads AS Are Necessary
to Meet War Needs.
M'ADOO EXPLAINS TO
SENATE COMMITTEE
Director General of Railroads Called
to Explain Operations Of Government
Administration Of Raads-Govern-
ment to Assume Control Of Canals
and Inland Waterways Should Such
Move Be Deemed Expedient.

senate interstate commerce committee
today to explain the operation Of gov
ernment administration Of railways.
| Mr. McAdoo said certain so-called
short line railways would be released
from government operation as soon as
i investigation now under way deter
mined it was not necessary.
In explaining the purposes of the ad-
ministration legislation Director Cen
eral McAdoo said he did not propose
to keep control Of any unnecessary
lines.
AS far as l can see after three
weeks preliminary investigation" said
Mr. lMcAdoo. Il don't contemplate TAX
Ing over any roads not necessary for
the governments war purposes and if
some interests necessarily get hurt by
tit they will have to stand It,"
| Director McAdoo said that should 1t
develop operation Of canals was neces-
sary they might be taken over. He
added that operation also will be eX
tended to inland waterways.
Cause OF Railroad Congestion.
| Senator Robinson, democrat, Of Ar
1 kansas, asked Mr.. McAdoo to tell, the
!committee why government operation
of railroads was necessary. Mr.. Nc
Adoo replied ne did not think he could
add anything to what has already been
/ said.
| rs it your opinion that the conges-
i ton Of the roads resulted from lack
Of facilities or the lack Of proper use?''
asked Senator Smith.
Both. 1t grew out Of lack OF facili-
ties and the failure OF separate rail-
ways to coordinate"
| When the government took over the
railways about 1000 locomotives were
on order by the various carriers. Nc
Adoo said. He ordered that the loco
motives as fast as completed be turned
over to him to be distributed where
most needed.
! That couldn't have been done under
private management" he said.
Clearing Of Road Slow.
Senator PoindeXter asked what had
been done so far to relieve railday con-
gestion.
1--WE have already got better dis.
| tribution."
Has there been much substantial
cleaning up YETI"
! II don't think so in the cast. where
there is not much Improvement" he
said.
II am not giving excuses" he added
"but there are conditions. somo that
no human ability can overcome. For
three weeks we have had successlv Q
blizZards and harbors blocked with icc.
One OF the serious troubles Is the delay
| In unloading freight cars. have tried
to correct that by Increasing demur-
rage charges. Also there Is short =
age Of motive power and a shortage OF
Dor. There Is general difficulty
which 7 think we can overcome Tt
can not be done in day or a week
or two. but 1t can be done eventualiy."
! Short Lines Fear Bankruptcy.
! Director McAdoo was told BY sena-
tors that Independent short lines
feared bankruptcy and that the govern
ment should take over all roads, large
or small.
II can't tell yet Mr.. MoAdoo re-
piled. what will be essential for the
purposes Of the war. The treasury
can not be called upon to reimburse
for real or imaginary injury"
''Hc "om consider the short lines are
part of the continental SYSTEM" asked
Senator Smith.
II would consider them So" Mr. Nc
! Adoo replied. "if they form n part Of
=. the system utilized for war nncessi-
ties. I have assumed that the bill will,
not deal specifically with what should
and what should not be taken over by
the government. NV opinion is that It
is the duty OF the director general. as
quickly as possible. to determine what
railways or parts Of railways are need
cd by the government and to, notify
the carriers. That Is now in process"
Courts Must Decide Injury.
CAS- to railways taken over COM
pensation is provided under the law
we are going to pass. AS TO those out
side 1t seems to me any injury Ia n
matter for the courts to determine. 7
don't believe the law should require
compensation to railways whether the
government needs them or not There
is no disposition to rip any one up tho
back. It Is the desire to treat the small
as we'll as the big roads as eauitably
as possible. All the lines excluded
from the government control ought to
be kept going. ENCOURAGED and treated
by the government with utmost fair
ness and considerations
Upon his request a short executive
session was held, at which Director
liMclAdoo urged on the committee the
f