The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-21
800 l4BAbY lines
Comprise List McAdO0 Would
Drop From Govt Control.
De Bernardo of Orient Line
Says 1t Means Disaster.

washington, Jan. 21.-Approxi-
mately eight hundred of these small
roads, representing $1,0o0,0oo.o0O in
vestment, are~fn the twilight zone
of control the senate committee has
been told during its examination OF
Secretary McAdoo. He insisted that
inasmuch as the direction of these
roads had not yet been disturbed by
government control, the government
was not liable for any compensation
to those roads turned back.
Clifford Thorne. former Iowa rail-
road commissioner, before the house
interstate commerce committee, de-
clared McAdoo had too much power
and urged that authority to fix rates
be left with the interstate commerce
commission.
THE time may come he said,
when it will be necessary to abolish
our ins1itutions-to abolish courts, the
constitution and even congress itself
and to put all power in the hands of
one man, but that time is not vet.
Cites Danger of Control.
Thorne made the following points
of warning:
That a vast political machine among
railroad employees may be created if
the wage adjustment board, an
nounced by McAdoo is allowed ito be-
come mere puppet in the director
generoFs hands,
That the efforts of the railroads to
make government operation distasteful
mus be guarded against.
That the guaranteeing of returns
may remove all incentive to render
the most efficient service.
That great injury may come to
American business thru the juggling
of freight rates.
A. De Bernardo of Kansas City. gen.
era1 manager of the "Orient'-one OF
the small lines-claimed McAdoo's
policy of "ditching'' the "baby roads
will greatly decrease the efficiency OF
the national transportation system.
"It means only financial disaster for
many of the small roads that have
been struggling, along for years trying
to get on their feet" De Bernardo tes-
titled. 1.-The roads under government
control would naturally receive gov
eminent preference.
Every railroad system, no matter
how great it is, is somewhat depend
ent on the small railroad, no matter
how small it is. The government
should take over all the railroads or
none of them. If given their fair
share of business the small roads will
not be a burden to the government.
McAdoo said it was the duty of the
director general, as quickly as pos
sible, TO determine what railroads or
parts of railroads are needed by the
government, and to notify the carriers
That is now in progress =.-..,.
LAS to railroads taken over. COM
pensation is provided under the law
we are going to pass. AS to those out
side it seems to me an injury is q
matter for the courts to determine. ]
don't believe the law should require
compensation to railroads whether the
government needs them or not.
T. Keep All Lines Going.
There is no disposition to rip any
body up the back. It's the govern
ment's desire to treat small as well as
big roads as equitably as is possible
as far as is compatible with public
use and interest. All the lines exclud-
ed from government. control ought to
be kept gong, encouraged and treated
by the government with utmost fair
ness and consideration"