Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-02
WILL ADDRESS CONGRESS
ON RAILROADS THIS WEEK
President Wilson Expected to Ask
Prompt Action in Guarantee
ing Earnings to Companies.
RUSHING COAL TO NEW YORK
Pennsylvania Tunnels Used to EN-
pcditc Shipments of Fuel Into
New England - Passenger and
Even Troop Trains Sidetrackcd.
ny ID. VI. EDWARDS.

WASHINGTON. January 1.-Presl-
dent Wilson will go before Congress
with his railroad message Friday or
Saturday. according to intiu,ations to-
night in Official quarters.
Thoroughly pleased with what has
already been accomplished in a few
days during which the railroads have
been operating under government con-
troll, he will ask Congress for prompt
action to mako good his guarantees
respecting earnings.
10 desires specifically the authority
that will enable him to guarantee to
the roads rate of earnings equal to
their average returns of the last three
years surplus earnings above that
guarantee to lie tho property of the
government. and deficits below what
tho roads have been earning in that
period to be paid out OF the Federal
Treasury.
While no hint is forthcoming as TO
the full purport OF the message, there
is reason to believe that tho President
has prepared tentative draft OF
what he will say.
Although Congress, as whole, ap-
plauds tho Presidents action in taking
over the operation OF the roads the
legislation he will seek will probably
not have easy sailing. There is OBJ
lection in both branches to tho rate
OF earnings to be guaranteed. Com
plant is made against the fact that
the basis taken includes the three
most prosperous years in American
railroading, when. for tho first time
on record the dividends paid out almost
tipped the billion dollar mark.
1t is assumed that the President will
ask for an appropriation of some sort
that can be used as working capital
until the earnings can he computed.
RAILROADS TO PROCEED WITH
NECESSARY EXPENDITURES
The railroads havo received instruc-
tons to go ahead with any necessary
current expenditures and extensions of
their railroads.
But 1t is believed in railroad circles
that tho President very likely will ask
that large sum be set aside for
comprehensive. immediate extension of
the terminals most vital to the move
incnt OF supplies TO the allies and the
American cxpeditiouary forces. Tn
doubtedly he will suggest the adoption
OF measures that will restrict passcn-
ger travel and possibly the considcra-
be co-ordinated with water and rail.
which dual service lie recommended In
his proclamation Hint OF some such
suggestion has been made among the
officials now acting under Director
; General McAdoo.
Definite relief results have been OBJ
tanned b. the dircctor-gencraI within
the last ,wentyfour hours, chief
among them being:
!. Fifteen hundred cars of coal were
moved last night. to-day and tonight.
through the Pennsylvania tunnels at
New York for the New York district
and for New England
=. Orders were issued forbiddinr
transatlantic and other ships from
loading bunker coal at Portland, Me.
These vessels were instructed TO pro-
coed to Newport News, Baltimore,
Philadelphia or other ports. thus re-
leasing hundreds of tons OF coal for
the stricken districts.
). six more vessels were obtained
from The Shipping Board. This makes
eleven vessels that have been put to
coalinS at Newport News to move i'm
mcdiatcly 10 New England ports They
VIII have delivering capacity of
nearly $4,000 tons of coal :, week.
4. Orders were sent TO ST. Louis
Kansas City. Chicago and Cleveland
districts to begin to move the block
AIDED coal cars East. They will be
rushed to the New England districts
just as soon as the present jam has
been cleared.
New Years Day was coal day
throughout the northeastern section.
The director general sent orders to
Alfred u. Smith. in charge OF the trans
portation Of tho district, to move coal