Evening journal., 1918-08-02
SENATORS ATTACK
rail OPERATION
Federal Management AS
sailed by Men Who Miss
Apples and Sausage
PREDICT WORSE
CONDITION COMING

strongly assalled when Senator Key
Plttman, Democrat, OF Nevada, al the
seml-weekly session OF the Senate,
sought 10 praise the manner In which
the roads have been operated since the
government took them over last De-
cember.
Senator Plttman declared that The
congestion OF freight at eastern termi-
nails. that Threatened starvation for
large communities last winter, has been
entirely relieved and that war trailc
ls being moved speedily and with reg
ularily under Federal management.
Senator sherman, Republican. OF I'LL
nos, IN reply, said that II is almost
impossible under the Federal manage
ment. TO move freight
Senator SmOot OF Utah, Republi-
can declared that there would be a
rebellion" n the railroads under pri-
vate mana cement gave the PASSENGER
ser-vice they are now giving under
Federal operation. He asserted that
next winter the congestion OF coal on
the eastern railroads Will be just as
great as Il was last winter.
While Senator sherman was sssailing
the operation OF the roads. he declared
that he ls now unable 10 have barrels
OF apples shipped from chicago 70
Washington. while Senator warren, OF
Wyoming, Republican. declared ne mas
been unable 10 receive packages OF
sausage shipped TO Washington from
Rhode Island.
senator johnson. California. an ardent
advocate Of Government ownership OF
publlc utilities, said that he did not
want the question Of Government own
ership OF the railroads 10 be Judged by
the present administration OF them.
Does the Senator think that the
freight or passenger service is better
now than Il was before the Govern
ment took charge OF the railroads y
senator sherman asked Senator Pitt
man.
II consider that The freight conditions
/ IN this country are 100 per cent. better
| than they were before the Government
took charge Of the roads" replied SEN
| ator Pittman.
Senator Sherman declared that before
the Government took over the railroad
lhe got freight from Chicago TO Wash
llngton In thirty days. Now II took nv
months. he said. He said he had or
ldered a bookcase from Chicago las
February and got u on July 10.
"Our government at the present tim
IL more interested IN the transports
tion Of food and ammunition and fari
products and implements OF war on
= our soldiers than II is In transportiI
= bookcases for lawyers" answered Sc
\ ator Pittman.
U .sThe transportation OF food is wor
= than the transportation OF dead frelg
or nonperishable," said Senator she
y man. 1T Is impossible 10 get barr
r Of apples or potatoes in an edible cor
ldltion from Chicago into Washingto
? and has been since the Government too
charge OF the railroads. Il takes a
b the way 10 two months 20 get them.
, Senator Warren. Wyoming, said n
had lust received a postal card askinl
N he had received a shipment OF sau
sage sent him from Rhode Island OF
January "a. "Of course | had not re
celved H." he said.
@Tet me say this in all seriousness
said Senator PIttman. 1T IL certainly
a trivial argument at this time In an
swer 10 the great article presented
here by the members OF the interstate
Commerce Commission that gentlemen
get up and say they could not get a
barrel OF apples and cannot get sausage
from Rhode Island sent here. There
was a time when the railroad compan-
les were run IN the interest OF suoh
"At the present time there Is not the
congestion there was Of the railroads al
the time the railroads are taken over
Won have not iOG miles OF coal frozen
ont along the side tracks OF this coun-
sThere were last winter though,
| Senator Smoot interrupted.
wrhe Senator must know that the mol
dsv of July and the hot days OF Au-
gust so FAR as the transportation OF
coal Is concerned. is quite dlnerenl
from what u was In the cold days OF
January and December said Senator
Smoot. -, =.
tween now and the FIRST OF December
the sldetracks will be lammed WIN
cars OF coal again and the people OF W tne
limited States will be freezing as they
did last winter. a.,
"If the railroads were run as they
were before the governments Nooh 'ii.ll
over as they are today mean as tar
as passenger travel Is concerned
there would be a rebellion In thls
country. The people Of the United
states would not stand for the service
they are receiving today from any cor
poration OF company that might oper-
ate a railroad"
"I voted for the railroad bill because
favor government ownership OF pub
lie utilities" said Senator Johnson. !
voted for the telegraph bill upon the
fundamental idea that would have tnt
government own every public utility
that has a monopoly Of that in which
the public deals and which the public
has the right to expect a successfu
kind Of service.
81 decline to measure the principle O
government ownership by the presen
management Of railroads Of the Unite
states. and viii not have this princi
pie determined by just a few month
OF management by the government
What has transpired in the last tw
ES1zE72zI1 1f<kzl
~ r.