New-York tribune., 1918-02-14
to
Seize Railroads,
Kellogg Asserts
Senator Attacks Govern
men Control, but Will
Support New Measure
RSTIN Z I Y
Gates.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-Dcbatc q,
the Administration railroad bill in tn,
senate to-day was confined largely t.
prepared speeches by Senators KELLOGG
and Mclean, Republicans, both O.
whom announced they would vote fo,
'he measure, though they opposed the
principle involved. They said the,
were supporting government operation
OF the carriers only as a war measure
to terminate at fixed time.
ne present plan of government
possession under private management
is half slave, half free policy that
can be justified only at time when
me i'lc OF the nation itself is at stake, y
sald senator Mclean. at has all the
detects of government ownership and
none OF the benefits of private man.
agement under private ownership."
Calls Action Unnecessary
Senator Kellogg expressed the onin-
ION that the Presidents action in tab
ing over the railroads was unnecessarv
and as great results would have been
accomplished had the government pivcn
adequate cooperation to the railroads
IN meeting the situation. In view of
'he TACT that the railroads now AFRO
under government control, both he and
senator Mclean pledged their sup
senator johnson. of South Dakota.
late to-day introduced an amendment
winch would restore the original nro.
vision making the termination Of GOV
ernment control subject to future
Congressional action. This provision
was ", eliminated by both the Senate and
House committees. ''N'
6, "A substitute bill was introduced NV
,oemator townsend, Republican mem,
lows the pending measure. excent +hnt
IL changes the compensation section
sllghtiy. Senator Smith, of South
Sarollna, who is in charge of the Hill
hopes. to reach final vote late noxt
week. -"'o neAC
The executive committee of the rail-
roads. Senator Kellogg said, has greatly
coordlnated the transportation facili,
tles and enormously increased traffic
before the government took over the
roads, but were hampered by certain
laws and restrictions which should
have been abolished
The railroads should have been SUD-
ported by government authority" he
ito operate as unit Bear
ng IN mind that the congestion was
simply in the Eastern and Northeast
ern territory, | am constrained to be-
leve that as great service could have
oeen obtained through the governments |
cooperation as by taking over the |
'oads"
Senator Kellogg approved of the com
oensation provided in the bill. and
said:
"A guarantee by the government of
permanent income on an investment |
would be reasonable at a very much !
over rate, but the guarantee in this
ase is only for the period Of the war
md short time thereafter, and there
ore 1t should as near as possible rep
esent the earning capacity of the |
oads over a reasonable term of years"
Denounces Rate Plan
The plan submitted originally by the |
Administration, giving the President alb
olute power to fix rates, was denounced
" Senator Kellogg.
at is appalling" he declared, to
ay that tNcause we are at war the
ountrys entire ratemaking structure
nd the absolute power to change a
ate affecting the billions Of dollars
# railroad property and hundreds of
Millions of dollars of commerce shall
re placed in the hands of one man.
Without the right of appeal"