Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-03
Administration Bill Will Be
Reported to House and
Senate This Week.
GIVES PRESIDENT POWER
TO ALTER FREIGHT RATES
Places Time Limit on Govern
mcnt Operation Of
Railroads.
RETAINS REVOLVING FUND
Interstate Commerce Commission
VIII Have Right TO Determine
Fairness of Tariffs.
lBy Associated Pr.gs.7

iBy Associated Preyg.1 -
wAsHrNGToS. February s.-rhe
administration railroad bill. limiting
tho period of government control OF
thc railroads and providing for com
peusation to the stockholders. viii be
reported TO both houses Of Congress
next wcch. At the urgent request of
pircctor-Gcncral McAdoo, administra-
ton leaders will make every effort to
expedite passage or the measure.
Tho Senate interstate Commerce
Committee voted to-da- u report the
measure favoTably Monday with
amendments limiting government con-
,rol 70 eighteen months after the close
oc tho war and giving tho President
power 10 initiate rates Enbject to APP
peal 10 the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. Tho committees action was
not Unanimous. Senators CumminH
and La Toilette. Republicans. an
nounccd that they would submit minor
~ reports.
Tho House committee, by vote o.
!5 10 s, approved an amendment pro-
vid!ns for termination Of government
control TWO years after peace is de-
that his committee would complete con-
aidcration o: tho measure Tuesday or
Wednesday and that he would ask
unanimous conscn, for lis Immediate
Dasslsc.
-Four amendments TO limit tho time
Of government control were offered In
the House committee. one by Repre-
sentative Esch fixed the time at one
he hx.D
rcscntatiTc Barclay. at three years:
third. b. Representative Parker. at
eighteen months, and the fourth by
Representative Montague, at two
years-
CHAIRMAN SIMS OPPOSES TWO
YEARS TIME LIMIT
Chairman Sims vigorously opposed the
t"o years Limitation as adopted. de-
ciar!ns that /, would affect the valua-
ton OF railroad securities. Representa-
tive Montague insisted iha; a, lcas,
Two years would be required for tho
railroad interests 10 adjus, themselves
after the war.
The Senate committee left unchanged
the original provision In the Aiil. fixing
the rate OF compensation on tho basis
Of the annual railway operating income
for the three years ending on June 30
1917. and the House committee also is
expected 10 agree 10 This provision
which was suggested b" The President
Amendments forb!dGiuS increased
compensation TO roads based on their
earnings or surplus accrued during the
period OF government control and pu,
into the property were accepted
The section authorizing the President
TO purchase and construct canals was
amended SO as 10 permit, only OF their
utilization.
The section providing 70. an appro-
pr!ation OF sooo.oo0.oo0 to be used as !.
revolving fund. from which 10 pay any
nencicncles That may result. or 10 pro-
vide for additional facilities. was re-
tained by the Senate committee The
fund would provide the government
win "orhins capita! for the operation
OF the roads
PRESIDENT MAY TERMINATE
OPERATION SOONER If HE WISHES
in providing for the termination of
government control eighteen months
after the war the Senate committee
further amended the bill so as to an.
thorizc the President. il in his opinion
necessity for further control shoull
terminate. to rclnuu!sh supervision
over all roads before that time. Dis
crctionary power 10 determine up to
July !. 1918. what roads arc necessary
In tho government operation plan also
Is placed in the President. but after
that time he could not exclude from
government control any road with
out its consent
The amendment authorizing the
President to initiate rates permits an
peala either by the carrier or simmer
to the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, which is to investigate, and de-
termine their fairness. This section
and the one fixing the time of govern
ment control were bitterly debated in
the committee. and. owing to the wide
differences. an adjustment was effected
only after the questions had been sub