Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-22
GENATEF|GHT
BLOCKS. VOTE
ON RAIL BILL
Proposed Amendments De-
lay Final Ballast Until
Tomorrow.

LEWIS PICTURES VAST
! OWNERSHIP PROGRAM
Washington, D. c., Feb. 21.-Hope
i OF disposing of the railroad bill In the
senate before adjournment today vir'
tually was abandoned. late this after.
noon because Of delay on amend
ments. Plans were made to continue
the debate tomorrow.
/ cUMMINs OPENS BATTLE
, The first amendment taken up was
by Senator Cummins Of Iowa, to re-
duce the amount of compensation
guaranteed annually to the railroads
by about $173,000,0 900. The amend
ment, the senator said, would only af-
feet about Sc of the more than 1000
,, railroads in the country and with the
exception of two would not affect any
railroad in New England.
Compensation on the basis of the
bills present provisions would exceed
5000, 900 900 year.
Opposition to the house draft Of the
administrations railroad bill, particu-
larly its provisions for compensating
the roads, determining rates and fix
ing the period of government reten-
ton after the war, was voiced today
by Representative Esch Of Wisconsin,
ranking republican member Of the In
terstate commerce committee.
SPEAKS FOR MINORITY
Representative Esch, speaking tor
the minority Of the committee, de-
clared the proposed rate of compen-
sation is too high; that the power to
initiate rates should rest with the In
terstate commerce commission rather
than with the president and the roads
should be returned to their owners
one year or less after the proclama-
tim OF pAacA insfexd Of two yaarA4 ~
proposed by the house bill.
"Owners Of our railroads should be
content to receive guarantee OF pay
ing of all fixed charges" Representa-
tive, Esch said, Including operating
expenses. taxes and interest and regu-
lar dividends oni outstanding stock.
SURPLUS 70 GOVERNMENT
''Any surplus above such payment
ought either to 60 to the government
be equally divided between the own
ers and the government.
"The minority also believe that the
rate. making power should remain in
the hands of the interstate commerce
commission. 1t Is the one body under
our government that has had the reg
ulation Of railroads, including their
rates, in charge. 1t is not necessary
to give the president, even in time OF
war, the power to initiate rates. No
other nation has given to single In
dividual this power, not even auto
cratic Germany"
LEWIS FAvoRs MEASURE
Senator Lewis of Illinois, speaking
In the senate today. declared the ad-
ministration railroad bill is fore
runner of the government control over
various public utilities and predicted
that the question would be the great
domestic issue in the next presidential
campaign.
LET us not deceive ourselves as to
the meaning of this measure" Sena-
tor Lewis declared. This is the be-
ginning Of the government taking the
railroads as government agency. The
roads will never be permitted to re-
turn to the former state Of personal
control for private benefit.
EXTENSION is FORECAST
"At the same time this country
takes over the railroads. 1t viii take
the telegraph and telephone privileges
and then the products for fuel, parti-
cularly the lands of coal and oil and
put these under government direction.
"All agencies Of this nature in this
republic. necessary to the public well
fare of man, will be taken by the gov
ernment as necessary protection OF
the republic"
The railroads, Senator Lewis de-
clared, confessed their inability to
meet the situation and by surrender
ing to the government admitted that
the one power capable to carry ON
the work under the existing conditions
was the government itself.
WOULD FORESrALl ANARCHY
"The government conducts the roads
and directs them as the proof OF its
power and ability to do so," he as
serted. Private ownership of rail-
roads failed us for the purpose of
sending supplies to ships or for trans
port of soldiers for foreign service.
What would be the calamity under pri
yate ownership II enemies were at our
gates and in possession Of our
country?
Let us announce that the United
States is q government and shall as
sumo governmental responsibilities in
protecting all public agencies OF hu-
man welfare from being monopoly Of
private pillage."
II this is done, Senator Lewis said,
any bolsheviki uprising In the United
States will be avoided.
SENATE NEARS VOTE
At the end Of the speech making
the senate was ready to begin con-
CONTINUED on Page y