Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-07-17
THE SHORT LINE RAILROAD SIT

which the railroad ADMINISTRATOR
does not wish to retain the possession
of under the provisions of the general
statute giving the President the pow
err to take and control the railroads
of the country. In this respect the
Railroad Administration is opposed
by the almost unanimous Judgment
of the members Of both houses of
Congress-.
The Railroad Administration an
nouncement of the policy which be-
gan being enforced on June 20 is as
follows:
Under the Act of March 21st, 1918,
it becomes necessary for the United
States Railroad Administration, prior
to July 1. 1918, to exercise the re-
sponsibility, created by Section IA of
that Act, of determining what rail-
roads or parts of railroads it is not
needful or desirable shall continue
under Federal control.
| So far as it has been practicable, in
such a complicated matter, to develop
the facts up to the present time, it has
become apparent that there are large
numbers of the shorter railroads
whose Federal control is not needful
or desirable.
The Railroad Administration has,
therefore, provided that all such rail-
roads be relinquished, except in cases
where it has already been ascertain
ed that it is needful and desirable that
eral control.
In taking this action the Railroad
Administration is mindful of the para
mount Importance of preserving I'M
impaired the local public service per-
! formed by the railroads which may
! thus be relinquished and is also So
| licitous that no injustice shall be
! done to the owners of such railroads.
1t may. be that creation of Federal
control over railroad systems in gen.
eral will tend to change unfavorably
! the situation of many of these smaller
railroads, unless special care shall be
taken to avoid such unfavorable re-
suits, with consequences detrimental
both to the local public service and
| to the just interests of the railroad
owners.
TO avoid these consequences and to
preserve in every reasonable respect
a status for the railroads so relin-
quished as favorable as that which
they enjoyed during the three year
test period (the three years ended
June 80, 1870, great care will be TAX
en- to see that the railroads so relin-
quished are given fair divisions of
joint rates, are insured a reason able
car superintendent considered,
and are protected against any undue
disturbance in the routing of traffic.
|. In order to make sure that con-
tinuing study and supervision shall be
provided for the carrying out of the
policy thus outlined, there will be
created at once in the Railroad Ad-
ministration's Division of Public Ser
vice and Accounting a Short Line
Railroad Section, the manager of
which will be charged with the spe-
cial duty of ascertaining what Is nee
esary in order to give as to these mat
tiers reasonable protection to the rail
roads relinquished.
1t may be that instances will ap-
pear where Federal control of rail-
roads now relinquished, is, in fact,
needful or desirable. In such cases
there will be no hesitation in taking
the action necessary to put such rail-
roads under Federal control.
In general, it is the definite policy
of the Railroad Administration to see
that all short line railroads receive
fair and considerate treatment.
I approve the above policy and an
nouncement
(Signed) WOODROW WILSON.
The Manchester & Oneida Railway
is one of the LOO short lines, which
the Administration desires to special
ly care for. but not to absolutely CON
troll
After the Administrations policy
in reference to these short lines be- !
came known, both houses of Congress
passed a resolution without dissent
ing vote. which would oblige the Rail
road Administration to retain control
of practically all of the short line
railroads, the Manchester & Oneida
included. The President has vetoed
the resoHution and in view of the prom
Uses contained in his veto message, it
is not probable that an attempt will
be made to pass the resolution not
withstanding the veto.
The following are extracts from the
Presidents veto message:
"They (the excluded short lines),
should be accorded fair division OF
Joint rates-a fairer division than
some of them have been accorded
hithertO-and an equitable allotment
of cars and motive power and fair
routing arrangements.
"This is the policy which the rail-
road Administration will porsue to-
ward these roads. They will not be
put at an unfair or ruinous disadvan-
tage. The government owes a recog-
nized obligation to the communities
which they serve, but it is not, in my
Judgment, wise to oblige the govern
ment to deal in the same way with