New-York tribune., 1918-12-12
Board of Trade
Would Turn Roads
Back to Owners
Also Favors Government Civ
ing Up Control of Wires
and Express Companies;
Condemns Seamen's Act

Resolutions demanding the termina-
tlon OF government operation of rail-
road. express. telegraph, telephone and
cable companies, and their return to
former owners, were unanimously
adopted yesterday afternoon at the
regular monthly meeting of the New
York Board of Trade and Transporta-
ton. Resolutions requesting the re-
peal of the La Toilette seamens act
and the restoration Of free harbor
llghteragc were also adopted.
In the resolution asking for the re-
turn of the railroads and other pub
nc utilities it was said that the reason
Tor government control was the war
emergency.
Continuing, the resolution reads:
RESOLVED, in the opinion of the New
York Board of Trade and Transporta-
tlon, that in the interest of the public
and IN fairness to the owners of the
railroads the question of the termna-
.lon OF Federal control should not now
De reopened for discussion. and we ap-
plaud the declaration of Preside Will
son in his recent address to Congress IS
,that it will presently become my duty
TO rellnquish control of the roads, even
De1ore the expiration of the statutory
PERIOD, unless there should appear some
Clear prospect in the meantime of a
Legislative solution Be it further
Resolved, That we are unalterab bly
opposed to the government holding the
railroads, and we deprecate the efforts
now being made in Congress to repu-
dlate the policy of the government al
ready adopted, after full delberation.
10 return the railroads TO their owners
at definite time.
"Resolved, That the interest of the
PUBIC and good faith demand the rail-
loaos, express companies, telephone
ana telegraph companies and the cable
companies must be returned to the;r
owners at the earliest possible moment
mat VIII permit the adjustment of the
oDllgatlons Of the government to such
companies, and the enactment of such
Iegislatlon as may be necessary to pro
tect the interests of such comnanies
and the interests of the public.
RESOLVED, That a special committee
De appointed to further consider this
question and to take such steps as in
It's Judgment will facilitate the nur-
poses OF the foregoing resolutions"
"A memorial demanding that the state
recialm full control of the New York
oeate canals from the United States
railroad administration, introduced bv
captain Marcus H. Tracy, was referred
10 the canal committee with power to
act: The memorial states that if Fed
eral control continues the cost of trans
portatlon will increase so that other
atlantic ports will take trade from
New York. '''
There was considerable discussion
concerning the effect of the La Fol
lette seamen's act, and q resolution
was adopted that if the act is not re-
pealed serious injury will be done to
the American merchant marine.
Free harbor lighterage, according to
the resolution which demands it's re-
turn. was discontinued because condi-
tons created by the war made it in
convenient and impossible for the rail
roads to perform this service. These
conditions no longer exist, the reso-
luton says
The proposed legislation asked by
Dock Commissioner Hubert, for the
improvement of New York City's water
front facilities was favorably passed
on by the board. Commissioner HUI
bert asked that the name of the de-
partment be changed, exclusive juris-
dlctlon over waterfront property be
given the department and that the
Commissioner be given authority to
compel owners of private wharf prop
erty to make necessary repairs.
DR.. Maurice Fraacis Egan, former
Ambassador to Denmark, who was the
guest of homer, made short address.
He began by saying he applauded the