The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-05
The text of the administrators
railroad control hill followe:


railroad control bill follows:
An act to provide for the operation
Of transportation systems while un-
der federal control for the just COM
pensation of their owners and for
other purposes:
Be It enacted by the senate and
house of representatives, etc;
Section /. The president. having in
time of war taken over the posses
sion. use and control (calied herein
federal controD of certain systems OF
transportation tcalled herein car
rfers), Is hereby authorized to agree
With and guarantees to any such car
riera that during the period of fed
eraI control IL shall receive rs It's just
compensation and income at an an
nual rate equivalent as nearly as may
be to its average net railway operat
ing income for the three years end
ing June 30. 1917 (calied herein
standard return). said net railway on
Grating income for the purpose of this
act shall, as to carriers making re-
turns to the interstate commerce
commission. be computed from such
returns. excluding. however, debts
and credits arising from the accounts
called In the monthly returns leased
road rents and miscellaneous rents
provided, however, that no federal
taxes in excess of taxes assessed dur
Ing the year ending June 30. 1917.
shall be charged against revenue in
computing such standard returns.
Any net railway operating income in
excess of such standard return shall
be the property OF the United States.
The amount Of such standard return
80 accruing during said period of three
years shall he determined by the in
terstate commerce commission, and
the certificate of the commission az to
the amoyH OF said net railway opera
ting income shall. for the purpose of
kuch agreement and guaranty. he
taken as final and conclusive.
During the period OF such federal
control adequate depreciation and
maintenance OF the prrsperties of the
carriers shall be included as n part
Of the operating expenses or provided
through a reserve fund. in accord
ance with such principles and rules
as shall be determined by the presi-
dent.
Section 2. II no such agreement In
made, the president may. neverthe-
less. pay or cause TO be paid TO any
carrier while under federal control an
amount not exceeding 30 per cent of
such standard return. remitting such
carrier to it's legal rights in the court
of claims for any balance claimed;
and anv amount thereafter found due
above the amount paid shall bear in
terest at the rate OF per cent per
aunum; and any excess amount paif
hereunder shall be recoverable by the
United States with interest at the rate
OF per cent per anuum.
Section 8. ANY claim for tust COM
pensation not adjusted as provided in
section l shall he submitted 20 a
board OF three auditors Fsspointed by
the Interstate cogrmerce com Fat~s'on.
members OF which and of the official
force thereof being eligible for service
as such auditors. hut without addi-
sfonaI compensation therefor. Said
auditors. shall rive full hearing TO
such carrier and -, the United States
and shall report to the president the
amount due such carrier az fust COM
pensatSon: sum not exceeding the
amount so reported may be agreed
upon nv fhe president and such car
rier Failing In snch an agreement.
either the United States or such car
rier may file a petition In the court OF
claims for the ourpose of final ascer-
tainment ~ the amount Of such lust
com pensation. and In the proceedings
In said court the report of sssd audi
tors shaft be prirna facis evidence OF
the facts therein stated. The just
cnr-wer@affon of anw carrier under
federal control not making returns 20
tire interstate commerce commission
shall he determined In accordance
WITH the provisions OF this section.
Section t. The return Of any such
carrier shalt he Increased by IN amount
reckoned NJ rate per cent 10 BE
fixed by tire president upon the cost
81 any additions ana improvements
made white under federal control
with the approval of the president 20
the property Of anw carrier and paid
for BY such carrier from its own capt.
tai or surplus: and BY an amount
equal TO the rate accruirg TO the
United states uron any advances
made to such carrier for ths cost of
such additions and improvements az
provided in section { hereof.
Section :. No carrier w<te under
federal control shall. without prior
approval OF the president. declare or
Fay anv division In excess OF its resu-
lar rate Of dividends during the wears
ending June 80. 1917. provided. how
ever, that such carriers as have maid
no regular dividends or no dividends
durfnr such period. may with the
prior approval of the president. pay
dividends A. such rate as the presi-
dent may determine.
Section 6. The sum OF 100000
600 ~ NSFeDy APPROPRIATED oot VI ehS
pubic treasury from any funds not
otherwise appropriated, which. to-
uether with any funds available from
any excess earnings OF said carriers.
NAV be used by the president as =
revolving fund for the purpose OF
paying the exp~nses OF federal con-
troll and anv d~fsc't of any carrier be-
low such standard or ascertaired re-
turn. and to provide terminals. en-
g4res. rolling stock and other neces-
sary eouipment. such terminals I'M
provem entS and eouinments TO be
used and accounted for as the prest
dent NAV direct to ne disposed OF an
congress may hereafter by law pro-
vide
The president NAV also in connec-
tton with the property OF any carrier
make or order any carrier to make
anv additions and improvements nee
ea.ary or desirable for war purposes
or In the public interest. He may
from such revolving fund advance to
such carrier all or any part OF the ex-
pense or such additions and Improve
rnents so ordered and constructed by
such carrier and to bear interest at
such rate and to he PAYABLE on such
tarms ar NAV he determined by the