The sun., 1918-12-29
MAY BIND WILSON'S
HANDS ON RAILWAYS
Congre>S Seeks Definite State
meHt From McAdoo Regard
ing Official Plans.
WANTS TO AVERT PERIL
Proposed Five Year Control
Period Looked Upon as
Ownership Step.
WANTS TO AVERT PERIL
speria, Despatch 10 Tur sr~.

Flf' w. hNFNT't ~ II ~
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.-when Direc-
tor.General OF Railroads McAdoo comes
lsfore the Interstate Commerce Commit
ne to explain his plans for the railroad
,rstem Of tho nation he will ne asked
inst to give Congress the assurance that
in the event of the rejection Of the FIVE
ar extension of Federal control there
! ~ - ay attsInpt to turn the railroads
lack 20 their owners in their present con-
,ftion. Unless Mr.. McAdoo pledges his
he committee members declared a reso-
luton binding the Railroad Adm!nlstra-
;on 20 maintain control for the author
!.ed period of ~twenty-one months after
the war will be rushed through Congress.
Tie law under which the Railroad Ad-
ministration is acting merely authorizes
the President TO maintain Federal cou-
troll for twenty-one months after the
proclamation of peace and the President
las the right TO turn the roads back at
any moment he sees fit, 1t was pointed
out
For the moment Congress is awaiting
elucidation of the tration's plan
10 extend Federal control for Ave years
after the war. 1t is the general impress
sion OF the majority of members of the
Senate and House that the following of
this plan would make Government owr-
ership inevitable. The Senate Interstate
Commerce Committee will demand OF Mr..
McAdoo the clearest and frankest state
ment OF exactly what his plans EN-.
brace. -,
Congress leaders Dissatisaed
Leaders * both parties in Congress
are dissatisfied with the Inconsistencies
which they assert. exist in. the statement
~ the President nade'in his address to
Congress on December 2, delivering the
railroad problem into the hands of Con-
creSs with limitations from the Director
General that in the event that the extern
SION Of the period of railway control for
Ave years after the war was not promptly
granted by Congress the railways would
he turned back TO private control under
the laws and regulations and witt all the
deficiencies of the pre-war period.
Congress and also the railway heads
,noked on the McAdoo sug gestion as a
threat. As n threat the suggestion was
bitterly resented. Since II was made
the Director-General has modified his
expressions in some degree, hut there
has not been forthcoming either from
the President or the Director-General
any satisfactory assurance what step
would be taken IL Congress did not ac-
cede to the demand.
Section IL Of the law ~recites:
That the Federal control Of railroads
and transportation herein and herero-
lore provided for shall continue for and
during the period OF the war and for a
raa SOn hI, TINA 4haraa ftar u-hI,I,=eha1 ali
rot exceed one year and nine months
roxt following the date of the procla-
nation by the President OF the exchange
OF Publications of the treaty of peace"
No P~rohibitory Clause.
Nothing In the law. It is pointed out.
prohibits the immediate surrender Of the
ines to private control under laws eX-
sting prior to the war emergency II
the President sees At. for the sam sec
Ton OF the law continues:
The President may relinquish all
railroads and systems of transportation
under Federal control at any time he
shall deem such action needful or de-
s!rable. No right to compensation shall
accrue TO such owners from and after
'he date OF REIMBURSEMENT for the prop
orty so relinquished."
IT tho foregoing proviso il what Con-
cress feels 70 be the menace TO the Sc
curity OF the transportation systems Of
the nation from threatened panic. II IL
believed that tho REIMBURSEMENT OF the
ines in advance of legislative enact
Inents framed TO stratghten out the de-
CcienCies OF the laws on the statute
hooks, would create a veritable chaos in
so affairs OF the railways and steam
ship lines now under Federal jurisdic-
ton. This Is the occasion for the resent
'rent expressed at the suggestion OF re-
'tnquishment as a club TO force out OF
Congress the assurance to the Admins
'ntion that for FIVE years the railroads
3, all be controlled in the fashion OF the
present