The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-01-08

defined yesterday clearly enough to
show that it means a radical fight
in this Congress and afterward.
The, railroads will fight. They
will fight as a unit They will not
fight Government control or "pos-
session" If possession is inter
preted. hereafter to mean actual
ownership, the fight they have now
opened involves no open stand now
against either Ownership" or pos
session.
They take the ground that the
Government is in possession and
that their boards Of directors and
managers are ousted from control,
and no. longer responsible for re-
suits except as they must answer to
the President and his representa-
tives.
The direct issue will be on the
question of compensation. As a re-
suit, the railroads demand that this
compensation must be through
agreement, satisfactory to them, or
else it must be decided by the courts.
This is an nltimatum. It means,
Of course, that if they are not salts
fled outside the courts, they will
fight. in the courts with all their
power to block the entire program
of possession and control" as now
existing, or of possession and own
ership, If that is substituted for pos
session and control. They will not
fighter oppose any method Of oper-
alton thought necessary ito win the
war; : Beyond winning the war"
they mean TO go to their own full
length in demanding a settlement of
their claims fully satisfactory to
themselves.
Before the Senate Committee
on Interstate Commerce yesterday
Judge Alfred P. Thorn spoke as gen.
eral counsel for the Railroad War
Board committee. Representing the
railroads as a unit, he spoke with
dignity and restraint, but made no
effort to disguise their feelings Of
They are ready, he said, |
for Sacrifices which can be legiti-
LAoICAE ANqulLCA.=
''legitimately." AS the President
in his last message to Con-
gress, made special point against ,
unjust injury" the railroads may
now be understood as making their |
point against unlawful illegality."
Ready for Legitimate sacrifices"
and pledging themselves to patriot
SIN, the railroads, as Judge Thorn |
'poke for them, are involved in "the /
most monumental financial transac-
ion that has occurred in the history
If mankind" They expect to be
accordingly.
They will oppose the three-year
lverage. They will demand compen-
'ation for use. at a rate to be decided
~ their earnings at the time pos
ession was taken, or as near as pos
ible to that time. They will oppose
he thirteenth section Of the bill,
lnder which control is made perma-
lent unless the bill is repealed or
mended after the war. Senators
Watson and GalIinger introduced
TO section 13 yesterday.
As the railroads demand a settle
nent by consent, agreeable to them,
hey ask tribunal" Of some kind,
'efore resorting to the courts. This
5 forecast as a Senate commission,
r a commission provided by joint
esolution with powers of arbitra-
ion, under the theory that Congress
as not the judicial power to fix
compulsorily. This Is
eld to be exclusively a judicial
.ower. and Supreme Court decisions
re cited in support of that theory.
The open hearings OF the House
Committee on Interstate Commerce
lvite the views of both sides after
heir beginning at 10 o'clock this
Forming. One Of the questions to
. threshed out is of how far execu-
We power to invest In new securities
light he stretched to refund" the ;
ntire outstanding bonded indebted
ess, substituting Government bonds,
= their equivalent. for all existing
abroad securities" There are ,
cores of others, The greatest fight u