The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-03
MONTAGUE LEADS FIGHT
FOR RAILROAD CONTROL ,
AND WINS HIS POINT
Time Limit is Placed At Two
Years After Debate in Which
Virginia Representative
Takes Prominent Part
Drafts Amendment.

" e~1AAA1AENSA'f GU IIE a0tittIi@
istration railroad bil proposing to
lake over ne-seventh of the nrop-
erty OF the United States goes before
congress next week. Action late to-
Gay by the senate and house inter
state commerce committees assured
this.
The senate committee unanimously
reported the bill favorably nd Chair
man Smith will present It on the floor
Monday. Senator CumTntns will sub
nit minority report The house
committee by a. vote OF Is 70 10,
amended the bill placing a time limit
of two years after the termination
of the war within which the govern
ment must return the roads TO their
owners
Through the determination Of the
administration forces in the house
committee, the vote on the section re-
lating to the duration OF federal con-
troll Was not taken until late this
afternoon. Then it was decided to
adjourn until Monday for discussion
on the other thirteen sections OF the
bill
Representative Andrew J. Mon
tague, of Virginia, Democratic nSem-
Der of the committee, led the debate
IN favor Of two-year control lie was
opposed by Chairman Sims. OF Ten
nessee. who put forward the wishes
of the administration that the mat
ter Of restoring the railroads to theiF
owners be left to leyfslation M the
termination OF the war.
Turn Down Amendments.
Three votes were taken turning
down amendments put forward by
Representative Parker. OF New Jer-
control Esch, OF Wisconsin, for ons
year. and Barki~y. of Kentucky. for
three years.
Representative Montague drafted
an amendment striking from the orig.
iral bill the words. until congress
shall and inserting for n reasonable
time thereafter, which shall not ex-
coed two years next following the
date OF the proclamation bv the
president OF the exchange of the rati-
iications Of the treaty of peace
Through unanimous agreement the
amendment was offered for vote after
the leaders OF both sides had made
their nnal pleas. In the preceding
discussions all members OF the com
mittee voiced their opinions.
Immediately after the result wss
announced the Democratic members
who supported the administration
clause began preparations to insti-
tute a sharp fight when thc measure
is reported 70 the-house which Chair
man Sims said would be next Wed
neSdny Plans were discussed for n
careful! canvass With the proposal TO
brig about I'll the energy that can
he mustered 10 have the bill passed
in rs original draft so far as the time
limit paragraph is concerned
Other Amendments.
Majority leaders. including Mon
tague, said that they will at once
begin the preparation OF amendments
on other sections OF the bill These
viii be taken up in rapid succession.
they said. The matter OF compromis-
Ing on the time limit set by the SEN
ate yesterday. eighteen months. was
also taken into consideration but this
Was regarded as a detail that can
easily be adjusted.
In conference with House Lea ders
Webb and Ritchin, Secretary Nc
Adoo this afternoon promised equal
protection for short line railroads IN
case government necessity requires
their use. Representative webb saad
that no gave assurance that the traf-
40 arran gem ents would not be dis
TURNED until actual military demands
arise.
The senate committees amended
bill provides the same com pensAtion
as proposed by President Wilson,
the average net income from all
sources for the three years ending
June 30. 1911. An even harder night
was waged against this section than
on the duration of control provision.
Senators Cunmins Gore. LaFoi-
!ette and Poindexter. charged this
would mean gross over payment Tor
the roads