The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-02-23
McAdOO Gets a Setback
Short Lines Are Also to
Be Taken Over.
s5OO,OOO,OOO IS PROVIDED
Federal Operation Of Roads
Limited to Is Months Az.
ter War Ends.
Special Desnnick 10 TsE SLN


GIL this evening passed the slms-Smi,h
bill! the Administration railway control
measure, providing Federal control until
eighteen months after the war and ap-
propriating revolving fund Of $780,
100000 for Federal operation. By viva
voce vote. The entire day, except the
brief time devoted to the reading Of
Washington's farewell address by Sena-
tor Gerry U1 I.) in recognition of the
anniversary Of the birth Of tho Father
Of his Country. was consumed in a rapid
fire debate Of various amendments under
the five minute agreement. Tho speeches.
by reason OF the time limit. were tcrse.
but the debate lacked the element OF
rhetoric ard appcared more like the In
terchange OF views by some corporations
directorate.
short Linea lncluded.
The Administration was handed a
body blow when the Senate by a vote OF
bS TO II adopted an amendment offered
by Senator Cummins (Iowa) under
which all Independent short lines shall
be brought within the scope and opera
.tion OF the proposed act. This situation
bad been the original anticipation of
the country but in developing the dow
ernments plans since the proclamat ton
OF the Presidents taking over the lines
Director-General McAdoo had deter
mined to exclude such railroads as he
might desire from the Government pat
ronage.
Followln. is the vote on the Cummlns
amendment
For-Democrats Ashurst, Beckham,
Fletcher. Gore. Hardwick, Henderson.
Hitchcock. Hollis. Johnson of South Da-
kota, Jones New MeNico), Lewis. Nc
l<ellar. Martin. Myers, Nugent, over
nan. Phelar, Pittman. Ransdeil. Reed.
Robinson. Sheppard. Shields, Simmons,
Smith OF Arizona. Smith OF Georgia,
Smith Of South Carolina. stone. Swan
son. Thomas. Tillman. Trammell and
Wo!cott---33.
Repubiicans---Cummin Curtis. Dill
lingham. Fernald. France. Frelinghuy-
sen. Gronna. Hale. Harding. johnson Of
California, Jones OF Washington. Ken
yon. Knor. Lodge. MSCumber. McNary,
Nelson. New, Norris. Page. Sherman.
Smith of Michlsan, Smoot, Sterling and
Warren-2j.
Total, 6S.
Those Who Voted Against BiIl.
Against: Democrats-Bankhead, Ger
ry. kendrick. King. Kirby. Pomerene.
Salisbury. Shafroth. Underwood and
Nardaman--l0
Republicans - Kellogg. Foinde Xter,
Townsend and Watson.-4. Total. II.
Senator Pomerene (Ohio), Democrat,
asserted that the amendment. consti-
tuted a movement to force the Govern
ment into assuming control and upkeep
of railways the principal assets of
which consisted OF two streahs OF rust
1.,t1 81 n1,.hf II ,Ia'
Senator Simmons (Nort:l Carolina)
/ Democrat. supported the amendment In
/ face OF his own known favorable prcju-
. d!ces toward Director-General McAdoo
] Senator simmons insisted the railways
involved represented more than billion
dollars in outstanding securities. lie
said that in the event OF their being ex.
/ c!uded from the plan OF Federal unifca.
/ ton there would be a depreciation OF
/ their securities besides a deterioration
/ OF the properties themselves. for which
the Government could not take respons!.
! bi!ty.
The Cummins amendment was the
only proposed change in the bill dis
cussed in the course OF the day which
prevailed in the final action OF the Sen.
| ate.
An amendment offered by Senator
Sterling tSouth DakOta). altering the
bill by elimination OF the provision that
the rate fixing power should repose ir
tho President subject to review by tho
Interstate Commerce Commission. ant
substituting therefor the provision that
the rate making power should be dele.
gated to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission itself. was defeated by a viva
voce vote.
Hitchcock Stirs I'm.
/ Considerable importance was attached
by the Senate to an amendment Offered
by Senator Hitchcock tNebraska). Dem
ocrat. providing that the President
shouldN be restricted in authorization.
! Continued on Second Pdoe