The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-02
PRESIDENT To DISCUSS
RAILROAD OWNERSHIP

Washington, Dec I.--Presisienks
Wilson in his history making address
to congress tomorrow, is expected to-
lift the curtain on many questions Oka
eoncErra. afnonE thH for me /; Of asFhintIas
ise understood TO be the future 0f the
railroads.
1t is also understood here today
that he will name successor to-
Director General McAdoo.
Both announcements are predicted
to hold surprises and to upset most
of the carefully worked out theories
of what he will do about the roads,.
1t is asserted in quarters OF the firsts
reliability that there will be no clean
cut definition OF either government
ownership and control. or of private
ownership and control, but an am
Enouncement that the government mo-
longer needs certain roads for the pur-
poses for which they were taken over,
and that they may be expected to b.
returned presently to their owners. ON
one hand. and on the other, that Il w
practically impossible for the govern
SneHt to uhscrafnhie the butk or The
unified systems under the law which
SO directs, except with disaster to xerSl
vice and security holders. S
II was learned today that tho rAilss
road administration and the Interstate
commerce commission have been bu1t~s
~ engaged during the past week nre~s
pairing data. which is Understood Tor
the presidents use in making up the
railroad section OF his address. IN
II Is pointed out that the law makes
the president and no one else diractl4
responsible for the administrators o.
the railroads and therefore the preet.a
dent will tell congress his views ba&ed|
upon his experience to. date szzr II
May Clear the Air. TN
This experience, 1t Is declared, ~
| far as peace-time operation II COM
cerned, is far too meagre for the rrsst-s
dent to commit himself for or aEnlnst:
public ownership as a dehnite Dxtlcy.
in the way in which that Is generally
understood. The announcement, hcWN
ever. is expected very greatly to clS&&{
! the air of much uncertainty wh3chs
exists with respect to the rAilroAdes
future.
3--ON.
1t Is understood by those Ia hiS1S
railroad administration and raFtieur3
iarly by one man who for years hAos
been in close. constant touch with th4s
inside of the machinery thak skh&
problem the president will present I'll
congress and the country ID stukp&&A
one anri yet definite enough "a AfAxkss
the wheels OF legislation and take III
tTAtJOAI QueSllQu Out Oh IU2g 2k{&ES&Na
political plan Of discussion that hGn
obtained since the signing Of the ~;
mistict. ASe
| Two facts are expected "a ~ p1tNtvs
ed out forcibly and plainlys nAxA11Q
| that the reason for further 9OVekN~
ment operation Of certain roada pn1S v
ed with the coming OF peace " N1aE
pass presently wit hthe e0mplo3tUN
! Of rehabilitation, and alao that II NJ
patiently impossible. withOut diea0te&3
to security holders and thA to4 on
many benefits gained through goVo
ment operation to turn hack The UaA%
iority of the roads- to their ewIl41as m
contemplated in the raiIroad 4yEaS ~
third fact. which follows ~ " rs
larry to the second which TIM ~
Ii believed about to state. ~ That N&S
legislation must very soon W m = ~
/ cred to cure the inAdeQ9lE MI
| law directing the return ~ t6o
Idm1tcd Hcturn s IKE
As 4 detail Of this pr0&fMnl ES 49, 81
president n expected to ntAtGS y
" that the roads a. . whAlo u1t
! and must remain practicMfkH ~ ~
utility under federal ccntjg
there cannot b. ANY cef1 A.
vidnal opera ton exeepk
ited f0rM. ss sS N MI sa sS IN A 2saS5g3