The sun., 1918-07-04
US. TO RETAIN 55S
MORE SHORT LINES
Senator's Urge President to
Place All Under Govern
ment Control.
MOVE TO PROTECT ROADS
Railroad Board Will Govern
Pullman Company Operat-
ing Department.
sp,ciol Despatch to TIN Sun.


the short line railroads Of the country as
a necessary measure to protect these
roads and the communities they serve
from serious financial consequences was
urged upon the President by a group Of
seven Senator's to-day.
While they were at the White House
the Railroad Administration announced
is decision to retain $50 OF these lines,
making the total of those retained under
Government control 720.
The decision. however. in effect means
at least $50 short lines that have been
fighting to get in or to remain in the
guaranteed, have been dropped.
In long conference at the White
House Senators Smith Is. c.. chairman
of the Interstate Commerce Committee !;
Smith (Ga), Simmons Is. c.. Myers
tMon.). Fletcher (Fla-) and BanlShead
tAla) asked the President to sign the
resolution which has passed both houses
and which extends the time for decision
by the Railroad Administration on the
short lines from July 1 to january 1
next, with the proviso that no limo COM
peting with or connecting with Govern
meme road can be dropped.
The railroad control act set July as
the limit in which the Director-General
could reach a decision as to the lines to
DE retained and those to be dropped.
Action by the Railroad Administration
was taken under this law. as the resolu-
ton extending the time is not effective
until signed by the President.
The Senators attending the confer
ence stated. however. that the resolu-
ton if signed will become an amend
ment to the railroad control act and will
cover all the short lines
Want Extension Approved.
The Senators urged that such a course
was vital necessity to many Of the
roads that would be dropped. They
strongly urged the President against the
veto Of the time extension resolution, de-
claring ii would be a calamity to many
roads
In view of the Railroad Administra-
TONS action indefinitely including un-
der Government control the $50 roads
named to-day II Is possible that even
II the President signs the extension res
olution 1t may be necessary to is
sue proclamation or take some other
formal action TO bring the other short
lines that are dropped under Govern
nent control
In a statement June 80, Director Cen
eral McAdoo said that all of the short
lines would be fairly dealt with and
that while 1t was necessary to drop all
Nf thnsa which lett
had not been reached those right
fully belonging under Government con-
troll would he brought back by procla-
nation or otherwise.
President Wilson gave no indication
as 10 the course he Is to pursue in re-
gard 10 the resolution. He assured the
Senator's that he would carefully con-
slider the views advanced.
Unless the President vetoes the reso.
luton extending the time limit with Its
restrictive provisions 1t will become law
without his signature when the time
limit expires. Such course would ap-
parently leave the short line situation in
somewhat of a tangle. though the short
line advocates are confident that the
situation would be plain.
I. s. to Retain Pullman Control.
The operating department OF the Pull
man company is to be retained under
Government control as part of the
United States Railroad Administration
system. Announcement to this effect
was made by Director-G McAdoo
to-day.
The order taking over the Pullman
company expressly applies only to the
operating department. This means that
the Pullman car building company will
be separated from the operating func-
tons much as corporate interests and
Operating interests Of the railroads have
been separated. The Government will
operate all Pullman services, sleeper,
hat a Federal manager will be ap-
pointed.
Nineteen thousand employees OF the
Pullman operating department will get
M increased wages provided by the
wage increase orders. The increases
VIII be retroactive to January /. as
mean n payment In back wages of APP
the yearly increase for employees af-
fected will be S2,75o,000.
Pullman employees will not. however,
ret the basic eight hour day provided
for railroad employees because of the
peculiar conditions of employment. Pro-
vision is made for rest and sleep for
conductors. porters and maids while
they are on duty. Because OF this fact
the Increases with respect TO these en-
ployees will be figured on the monthly
pay basis provided for certain OF the
railroad employees.