Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-12
FOR ) YEARS MORE
RAIL WAY CONTROL
McAdoo's Suggestion of u. S.
Retaining Lines Approved by
Lines President, He Says.

Washington, Dec. 12.-William G..
McAdoo, director general of railroads,
in letter to Representative T. w Sims,
chairman of the Interstate and Foreign
Commerce Committee of the House,
made public yesterday asks that Con-
grcss extend the period of Federal con-
troll of the railroads for five years, or
until Jan. |, 1924.
Several reasons are given for the
suggestion. One is that at the present
session of Congress the time Is too short
to prepare adequate remedial legisla-
tion to provide lasting solution of the
railroad problem. The other is that un-
der the situation that has arisen since
the signing of the armlstice, 1t is hope
less for the government to attempt the
operation of the railroads only for the
twcnty-onc months after peace has been
signed Therefore, the director general
states, unless the time is extended the
railroads must go back promptly to
private control, an alternative which
he thinks would be hurtful alike to the
public and to the railroads themselves.
Another reason for his recommended
tion, MIR McAdoo said in his letter,
was that it would take the railroad
question out Of politics for the present.
Mr.. McAdoo's letter included this
statement: The President has gwen
me permission to say that this conclu
sion accords with his own view of the
matter
INVOLVES $500. 600, 600 a YEAR.
To extend the period five years. the
secretary asserts, would provide an OPP
portunity 10 test the value of unified
control and "thc experience thus gained
would Of itself Indicate tho permanent
solution of the railroad problem The
American people, he declares, have a
right 10 this test
'Fhc director general outlines pro-
gram Of Improvement Of the railroads
during the proposed hyc-vcar period.
This program would involve cxpendi-
lures Of ut least $500, ,O0O.000 a year
or a total Of S., 500 OO.0 900 for the five
year period
There is no question that tho Director
Generals proposal viii give Congress ono
oi the surprises ot the session. There
the opinion has been growing lately that
events were shaping themselves Tor an
carly return oi the railroads to their
owners
In his address To Congress on December
2 tho President first lald the OASIS for the
growth of the operation He stated that
the Administration was without a policy
with regard to tho railroads aud left tho
problem UP 10 Congress. stating that #
Congress did not take up the question
without delay and provide a solution he
would return the railroads To their own
crs AZ the earliest possible moment.
This was generally interpreted to mean
by next Spring Owing 70 the magnitude
of the problem and it's complicated nature,
il was generally felt in Congress that
no adequate solution could he found and
incorporated into q law in such a brief
period. and for this reason the opinion
mad grown tnat in few months the rail
roads would he back in their owners
nands,
ONLY THREE ALTERNATIVES.
Tnc President pointed out three alter
natives for the consideration of Con-
grcss; public ownership or control. pri-
vate ownership under some kind Of unl-
fed operation, or the return oi the rail-