The Washington herald., 1918-03-01
Lines Return to Private
Ownership Two Years
After War Ends.
MAY REACH WILSON
WITHIN FIVE DAYS
Vote Was Close on Several
Of Major Amendment,
to Measure.

Int IAOuSc last ulBnt, Dy a vote
of 337 to 6, passed the administra-
ton railroad bill, fixing two years
as the period after the war for
which the roads may be held BY
the government and leaving the
supreme rate-making power with
the President.
Despite the overwhelming vote
on passage of the bill itself, ad-
ministration forces STAYED of
amendments, which would have
completely modified the measure,
only by the narrowest of marsinA
AdninIstr.tieu vIetory.
An amendment By Representative
Sweet. Of Iowa. retaining rste-mAldnE
power in the Interstate commsres
Commission was once adopted. Rally
ing all his forces. Chairman stns,
in charge OF the bin. reversed this
action and gained Presidential rats
making authority By . vote OF NJ
to le5.
A similar course OF acton defeaAsd
proposed amendment by Reprsssn-
tstive Esch- OF Wisconsin directinr
the return OF the roads to private
owners one year after the war ends.
: Republicans supported these two
changes almost soHdly.
All amendments favored by govern
ment ownership men were defeated
by large majorities. The most i'm
portant, taking the limit OF the time
in which the roads might Be held
after the war. was voted down. Ii to
20. 1t was offered by Representa-
tive Barkley. OF Kentucky.
Representative London. Of New
York. Socialist, proposed the roads
be held % years after the END OF
the war. He drew the support only
of Representatives Iunn, Of New
York, Huddleston. Of Alabama. and
Carey, OF Wisconsin.
The bill goes to conference imme-
dlately. Most vigorous efforts will be
made to have it completed BY Marco
:, which will be just two months
since the President urged speedy sc-
4, ton on Congress.
ThosA opposed.
The six men who. Nnany voted no"
were:
Chandler. OF Oklahoma: Denison. OF
Illinois; Gordon, of Ohio; Thomas OF
Kentucky, and Haugen and Ramsey
er. Of Iowa.
Debate was most vigorous over the
aVowed ACKNOWLEDGEMENT amend
ments. Speaking on the y oendment
to keep the roads indefinitely Nfter the
war ends Representative Decker, Of
Missouri, said:
Gentlemen argue that one year or
two years after the war will be sum
cient time TO complete legislation
which, II is admitted. is necessary for
the return Of the roads to the own
ers. That is time enough II Congress
has no other problems before IL, ana
minority does not succeed in block
ing attempted action.
For ten years, one House or the
other has taken action to regulate and
control railroad securities, 10 prevent
what happened in the Rock Island.
the Frisco and the New Haven wrecks.
But a small majority has made that
entire decade too small, a time In
which to press legislation through
both branches.
ITO vote that a future Congress
must vote within one year or two
years on necessary legislation is TO
vote to put that Congress in a possible
straight-jacket, so that Il cannot act
at all.
That is what is behind this propa-
ganda OF the railroads that the car
riers must be given speedily back to
their private owners-they want them
handed back all repaired, thei-
finances in good order and no qoes-
tions asked"
LenrOot Bitter.
Bitterly denouncing an attempt 10
turn the bill into government owner
ship legislation, Representative Len
root, Of Wisconsin, said the govern
ment had taken over the carriers
under the guise Of a war necessity.
and that II must In honor therefore
return them when the necessity was
removed. He declared 20 take them
in any other way was 10 ''seize them
under false pretenses"
Agreeing with this stand. Repre-
sentative MondeI, of Wyoming,
added: Il cannot see how any good
citizen can help longing for the day
when the autocratic powers of row
ernment made necessary by war shan
come to an end, I cannot zee how
any honest legislator can propose %
prostitute the honor Of the nation by
taking over the railroads under a
war power and then continuing 10
hold them IN time Of peace. can
not believe that the people VIII have
. sense Of national honor would
tolerate this"
Representative Diclinson. Of 1u.-
souri. replied that far fram b<inr
"siezed." the railroads wess F1af 10