Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-01-11
WILSON ASKS FOR
NEW LEGISLATION
WANTS TO REGULATE THE Cow
EMINENT OPERATION OF
RAILROADS IN v. s.
IS APPROVED BY CONGRESS
Asks That Carrier Be Guaranteed
Compensation on Basis Of Average
Operating Income for the Last
Three Years.

compensation vi oaoio VI
Operating Income for the Last
Three Years.
Washington -Legislation to regu'
late the government operation OF rail-
roads and to guarantee the carriers
compensation on the basis OF their
average operating income for the
last three years was asked OF Congress
by President Wilson in an address to
both houses in joint session Bits
embodying his recommendation and
carrying an appropriation OF a half
billion dollars as a revolving fund"
were introduced Immediately and an
attempt will be made to rush them
TO prompt passage.
While the presidents address met
with general approval among demo-
Gratis and republicans alike, opposi-
ton Is expected to develop to pro-
vision in the administration bill that
federal control shall continue after
the war indefinitely or until congress
orders otherwise and other details OF
the compensation basis,
The plan will affect Immediately
only the wage requests OF the broth
erhoods but demands which may be
made later by other classes of organic
ed labor probably will be handled in
the same way, Mr.. McAdoo reserying
the right to make whatever decision
he chooses without regard to recon-
mendations Of the advisers.
Some increases. both to the broth
erhoods and to other railway labor
are generally considered certain. The
director general In statement prom
+ lsed every employee that his rights
md interests will be justly dealt
with" and appealed for hearty
spirit of enthusiasm and cooperation
from every ona.
Efforts TO sneed the movement OF
coal and other freight continued along
with the legislative and labor phases
of the railway movement and special
orders were issued providing that 500
additional cars shall be furnished daily
to certain specified bituminous and
anthracite mines. mainly in Pennsyl.
vania, for supplying New England,
These problems forced Mr.. Nc
Adoo to postpone action on eastern
Messenger traffic officials recommen.
lations for curtailment OF passenger
schedules but he is expected to issue
orders then for abandonment OF a
number OF trains and elimination OF
parlor and sleeping cars to a great
extent
Mr. McAdoo explained today that
although no general provisions can
he made under the law for exemnting
railroad employees :rom the draft he
will not hesitate TO appeal to local
exemption boards to defer the calling
Of these workers If the boards OF their
own violition do not disnlav a ten.
dency to regard the railroads as an
essential industry from which en-
plovees should not be taken for mill
tarv service
When the president concluded, the
administration bill was introduced In
the senate by Senator Smith Of South
Carolina. ranking Democratic mem
bor Of the interstate commerce com
mittee In addition to appropnriatine
$500 900 600 and providing for the
compensation basis under which the
government guarantees an aggregate
return Of some s9ooooo 600 a year
tho measure sets forth in detail the
conditions upon which government
oneration Is to be carried on.
Trrdpr the last provision the pres
ident Is expected to issue an orde
transferring to Director General Nc
tdoo ali functions vested in the chic
executive. This viii enable the dl"ec
tor general to organize cornora'iol
for handling railroad securities in &C
eordance with plan now under con
sheraton
Railroad officials are expected +
urge a number Of mod 'feations Of tn
accounting method prescribed by III
bll for reaching tho standard retu-'
basis but officials exnect the schem
as outlined in the hin probably w
- elIa,,,oJ IN tho m a In Same dil
oussion is looked for over the bill
!. provision that new federal taxes "
= der the war revenue act are not
y he charged against the revenue
computing the standard return IS ar
: ordinary taxes The effeHt Of IN
will he to require railroads to pa
s war taxes out Of their governments
compensation.