The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-23
Measure Goes Through as First Drawn Under
 McAdOO's Direction
LOWER HOUSE YET TO
 VOTE ON LEGISLATION
Many Amendments Aimed to Change Plans in Material Way De- feated by Very Large
 Majorities

Washington. February 2:.-The ad- mInistration bill, providing for gov ernment control of railroads until IS months after the war, including many "sEiort linesv and appropriating a re- yolving fund of $500, 100000 for federal operation, was passed today by the Senate without roll call and now awaits action in the House, where it is under debate.
 Both Senate and House worked through today's holiday to expedite the legislation. General debate was con- cluded today in the House and arrange ments made to consider amendments to- morrow under five-lninute debate rule with view to final action early next week. Differences between the Senate and House drafts then will be adjusted in conference.
 NO SENATE RECORD
 Neither on final passage nor on numer- ods roll calls today in the Senate was there any record of sentiment on the bill as whole. The agreement of the Sem ase interstate commerce commissipn, under which the compromise draft was brought in virtually precluded important revision The only amendment radically changing the compromise draft provided for inclusion of short line" railroads in federal control and benefits
 Provisions of the committee compro- mise, fixing the compensation of rail- roads to the three-year basis, providing the s5oo0eo.000 revolving fund appropria- ton, authorizing the President to lni- tate rates subject to interstate com nepce commission, and limiting govern nlent eoatrcl to IS months after the war. all were retained by the Senate.
 AMENDMENTS DEFEATED
 Amendments to reduce the period of control after peace is declared failed. One by Senator Lodge of Massachu- setts, to make the time limit six months instead or IS months, was defeated II to 2S, and another by Senator King Of Utah, to make the period 12 months, likewise was rejected, 4o to 29. There was no attempt today to revive the fight for indefinite government control, which was defeated yesterday by the decisive votesef 61 to 10. acr as ; Provision for the "short line' railroads Was n3duS IT. an sdnlenuneHt uyt4GeHdtOF Cummina of Iowa, adopted 5S to l4. ln- dependent "feeders'' of the trunk lines estimated to be worth more than $1,0O0 0Co,e90 arc affected. Fears expressed by many senators today that the short lines' would become bankrupt if not brought within government control was the basis of the Senate's action.
 M'ADOO'S POSITION
 Director General McAdoo has opposed the legislation for the short lines on the ground that no railroads excepted those selected as necessary to govern inent unification and successful opera tion should be brought within federal direction and aid. Determined efforts u reduce the government compensation to railroad owners failed.
 As passed the measure provides that approximately s945, ,000,O00 will be guaran. teed the carriers, based upon their standard net return for the .tllree-yea period ending June 30, 1917 Senator Cumnnins offered amendments, providing, respectively. that such net return should not be above 5, 6 and per cent of thelr' capitalization. They were defeated, 40 to 19. 45 to 24. and 4 to 27, respectively. Amendments designed to limit scope of the Presidents orders in operating the