New-York tribune., 1918-01-14
K. X. Heads Ask
Time Limit ON
Control by u. S.
1O2 Executives Meet Here
Return of Lines After
War Favored


and other representatives. of. every bic
railway system in the country held an
important conference here yesterday to
discuss the status of their roads under
Federal control, md the possibility of
ultimate government ownership.
Larger questions, Of financing the
pooled railroads, the length of the pc
rod Of Federal control and patriotic
cooperation for the furthcrance Of war
organization. were taken up in ses-
sion seven hours long. The meeting
took place in the board room of the
New York, New Haven & Hartford
Railroad at the Grand Central Tcrmi-
nal.
All the executives present -lO2 in
all-werc members of the Railway En-
ecutlses' Advisory Committee which is
composed of representatives of 173
roads, having 235,000 miles OF track, or
80 per cent OF the nations transporta-
ton systems. First calls for the con-
terence were sent out shortly after the
taking over of the roads by Frank
Irumbull chairman of the Chesapeake
& Ohio Railway and head Of the advis-
DRY committee.
Period of Control Discussed
Chairman Trumbul stated at the
conclusion of the session:
"The meeting had the end in view of
reaching an understanding among the
railroads. and then with the govern
ment. Shall government control end
with the conclusion OF the war. six
months after or at tho discretion of
Congress that was one OF the vital
questions upon which the members
voiced their opinions.
"This meeting was preparatory to
the government committee hearings
which begin in Washington tomorrow
+ lMonday). Two or three informal res
olutions were passed, to be presented
probably before the government COM
nttec."
it is understood that one Of the reso-
lutions urged that the period of gov
ernment control be fixed for the dura
tion of the war, or, if that is rejected,
for definite period afterward instead
Of being dependent upon subsequent
t Congress action, as the proposed
law now stands.
The railroad executives declare that
to pass such Il law would leave their
properties subject to the whim Of any
new Congress that might be elected,
and would tend seriously TO unsettlc
I conditions, as far as carriers arc con
ccrncd.
Trumbull Presents Figures
Chairman Trumbul presented fig
ures to tho railroad men, showing that
( the governments guarantee of income
/ based on average earnings during the
last three years, would amount to $780,
100000 annually during the period of
control 1t was the sense of the meet
ing that this was generally acceptable
although it had been k'Gyed that {,
higher income, taking into considera-
tion increased cost of labor and opera
ton. would be guaranteed.
While there was some disposition tC
+ find fault with the basis of remunera-
tion fixxl in the bill now pending in
/ Congress, the consensus of opinion was
that it was fairly acceptable as a gen
eral rule, but that the bill should be
amended to meet the requirements OF
exceptional cases. 1t was decided tc
recommend such a change in the bill
I that the President shall have discre
: ton to deal with the cases Of those
railways, such, for example, as the
Southern railways, which were espe
cially unfortunate, owing is regona
conditions, in 1915.
A second conference of Eastern rail
way heads was also held yesterday. l.
F. Lorees president of the Delaware &
Hudson, was chairman, and it is under
stood that the problems of traffic con
gestion and the coal situation wer,
attacked