Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-08
By WILL p. KENNEDY
OF The Star Stan.

TIME most important piece Of ma
machinery in the entire United
:States-machinery upon which
the whole world is dependent
is heritage to be disposed of by the
next Congress, for the best interests of
the people of this country.
THE incoming republican Congress
VIII receive. as trustee, from the
democratic Congress the duty Of de-
Gliding what shall be done with the
railroads of the country, now united
into one tremendous system, operated
by the government, for the common
win-the-war advantage Of the United
States and the allies.
President Wilson has told the legis-
lative body that the railroad ques-
ton is one of "the greatest concern"
and that he turns to it for counsel.
He admits that he has mo confident
judgment" of his own upon the sub
ject. He advises that complete
and impartial study of the whole
problem should be instituted at once
and prosecuted as rapidly as posi-
ble.''
Ready to Tackle Problem.
Congress is ready to wrestle with
the problem, and, while suggestions
have been flying like chips since the
Presidents speech, there is an agency
already in existence which could give
the most prompt and efficient service.
The Newlands joint commission is
still in being. 1t has taken thousands
of pages of testimony that will be
valuable in disposing of the railroads
1t has heard scores of the biggest
men in the country who know most
about the railroad situation, the
abuses that have been practiced. the
difficulties that have been fought.
This commission still has a large un-
expended appropriation, SO that 1t
could begin work at once.
A joint resolution has been introduced
after conferences between Senator Smith
of South Carolina and Representative
Sims of Tennessee, the present demo-
cratic chairmen of the interstate COM
merce committees. to extend the life OF
the Newlands committee, which other
wise would expire this month. and to
require it to make recommendations to
meet reconstruction and peace condl-
tons.
What shall be done with the rail-
roads is one of the outstanding re-
construction problems. with all the
in the solution. The situation has
been complicated by the proposed re-
tirement from public service of Secre-
tary McAdoo, who as director general
OF the raflwaye has been operating
them as one great machine. sacrinc-
ing all private or individual indus
trial interests-operating them at ex-
traordinary costs during abnormal
times in a world frisis-1to win the
war.
J Not Now a Party Issue.
Under the emergency legislation
that authorized the government to
take over and operate the railroads
these systems are to be restored to
their several corporate owners within
twenty-one months after proclama-
ton of peace.
What disposition shall be made of
the railroads is not now a party issue
between the republicans who are
coming into control and the demo-
Gratis who were in control when the
railroads were federal-seized-but
influence on the 1920 presidential
year campaign to which both parties
are looking forward. This question
is one that must be settled right
settled to the satisfaction not of CAPT.
tai or of labor. but of the great mass
of citizenship which votes a secret
ballot.
While leaders on both sides of the
House and Senate admit quite frank
ly that they detect a growing senti-
ment sweeping over the country
which will eventually demand-and
Grafton of public utilities. they are
reluctant to admit that they are con-
WINGED that the time has come for
this. Some say that if it must come
eventually the Congress will be max
ing shortcut by taking the roads
control and building them into one
big economic, efficient system as a
reconstruction need.
Few Advocate Old Order.
There are very few advocates for
returning the railroads to private
owners to be run as they We're before
the war. President Wilson has told
Congress:
The one conclusion that am ready
to state with confidence is that it
would be disservice alike to the
country and to the owners of the
railroads to return to the old condi-
lions unmodified. What the. country
chiefly needs is that all its means
of transportation should be devel-
oped, its railways. it's waterways, its
highways and it's countryside roads.
Some new element Of policy, there
fore, is absolutely necessary"
There is a growing sentiment, en-
couraged by the voice of the voters
back home" for government owner
ship. Congress seems inclined to a
middle course, along the lines of the
suggestions made by the President
"of modified private control. under a
more unified and affirmative public
regulation and under such alterations
of the law as will permit wasteful
competition to be avoided and a con-
siderab BILE degree of unification of ad-
ministration to be effected, as, for
example. by regional corporations
under which the railways of definable
areas would be in effect combined in
single systems"
Therefore, as it now stands, there
are just two broad lines of opinion
as to the action Congress will take
regarding the railroads:
"a Restore them to private owner
ship under new and strict federal
regulation and supervision.
(2) Retain them under federal con-
troll and operation through govern
ment ownership and develop them as
one big public service system.
Proposals Are Unprecedented.
Both Of these proposed solutions
contemplate an unprecedented condi-
ton in railroad anairs-doing away
with costly duplication of'-lines be-
tween termini, possibly the opera
ton of the railroads as a unified
system, the reduction of operating
costs to an economic and efficient
minimum and federal control over
| &c. EfaNkn n
stopping payment of dividends on
IVA tered. stock"