The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-19
CONGRESS PUTS
ON FULL STEAM
Quick Action Promised Now on
War Measures Which Are
Urged as Highly
Important.
RAILROAD BILL VOTE
Senator johnson Speaks In Favor Of
Government Ownership Of
Roads Of the
Country.
RAILROAD BILL VOTE

WASHINGTON, Feb. l9.-UnQer
the speeding up insisted ON by war
leaders, congress today put on full
steam to get the railway control bill
passed. The senate will vote on the
bill Thursday.
The house takes UP the bill today
and every effort will be made to speed
its passage, without choking off reas-
enable debate.
Senator johnson, California, speaks
today in favor of the government
ownership. His speech will answer
that delivered yesterday by Senator
Watson, Indiana, who for more than
three hours inveighed against gov
ernment ownership. Senator Over
mans subcommittee began work ON
the final draft of the $500 900, 600
finance corporation bill and the ap-
propriatdons committee continued
work on the diplomatic appropriation
bill.
Suffragists today renewed their ef-
forts to force an early senate vote
On the Susan B. Anthony amendment,
passed by the house.
Preparations are under way In the
house for getting quick action on the
compulsory wheatless and meatless
day bill, now on the calendar.
Johnson's Speech.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Opening
the fight to retain the railroads under
the government after the war, Senator
johnson, Calf, today declared In a
senate speech that the nation is
marching straight to the goal Of public
ownership-the people at last will
come into their own"
He vigorously assailed the compen'
sation provided for railroads in the
railroad control bill, stating that be
cause Of the crisis, 1t is indefensible. +"
To the plea that politics would plal
an important and Injurious part in the
management of the roads, Johnson re-
piled "I'll risk any kind OF politics IN
der government ownership rather than
the politics I have seen under private
ownership"
"I would now take the inevitable
next step in government control OF our
railroads and do whatever might be
essential to make that government
control permanent government owner
shin or at least leave the way open so
that Immediately upon the terminus
tion of the war we might follow to its
logical conclusion what already we
have partly DONE" Johnson said.
| after some months Of useless and
impotent endeavor, the railroad men,
as we'll as all others realized that un-
der the system existing in our country
neither service nor efficiency could be
accorded in this crisis. Now the les.
son is what? The great trunk lines OF
the country must be nationalized and
there must be one central directing
mower. It is plain that this national
Iizatton cannot be accomplished pv
connective roads There must be an
absolute unity Of purpose and with pri,
yate ownership, such coordination and
decentralization are utterly Impossible.
The conclusion therefore Is Irresistible
that we must ultimately do in time OF
,eace what we have been driven to dc
nv stress In time of war and the log1.
cal outcome is, Of course, government
ownership.
"The present bill, while allowing ex,
oass;ve compensation to the railroads
eyes time limit in which the property
shaI he held, Of eighteen months arter
tho war With the close Of the war
eighteen months will remain without
definite policy on the part OF the
Irnited States while the railroads Will
be under absolute control OF the oil
rector general 1t seems scarcely pos
sibIe that for this interval we should
with scrupulous care provide Tor pay
ing the maximum amount to the rail
road companies and be utterly silent
90 TO the railway management and gov
enrmental policy
/ Johnson reviewed the history OF his
a,,I or,;ns+ }he Southern Pacific in
] California to show how under private
management the idea prevailed tha, aa
the railway was designed solely fol
4 the purpose of paying dividends to Its
owners"
1 Takine up the compensation provid
for the roads while under govern
ment nj control, Senator Johnson com
nared % the method followed with tha
adopted respecting Americas fightin'
men and Liberty bond investors. While
A.. government conscripts young mel
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