Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-05
RAIL CONTROL BILL
WILL Be EXPEDITED
At NJ ADO0 s REQUEST
Amendments viii Limit Oper-
alton and Measure Provides
for Compensation to Stock
holders in Various CmpanieS

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-The admin
istration railroad bill, limiting the pc
riod OF government control OF the rail-
roads and providing for compensation
to the stockholders will be reported to
both houses OF congress next week.
At the urgent request of Director Gen
eral McAdoo, administration leaders
will make every effort to expedite pas
sage of the measure.
The senate interstate commerce COM
mittee voted today TO report the meas
ure favorably Monday with amend
ments limiting government control to
eighteen months after the close of the
war and giving the president power to
initiate rates subject to appeal to the
interstate commerce commission.
The committees action was not
unanimous Senators Cummins and
Lafollette, Republicans, announcing that
they would submit minority reports.
The house committee by vote of 10
to s, approved an amendment providing
for termination of government control
two years after peace is declared.
Chairman Sims later announced that
his committee would complete consid-
Grafton of the measure Tuesday or
Wednesday and that he would ask unan-
imous consent for it's immediate pas
sage,
Four Amendments Offered
Four amendments to limit the time
of government control were offered in
the house committee. One by Repre-
sentative Esch fixed the time at one
year after the war, another by Repre-
sentative Barclay at three years, a
third by Representative Parker at IS
months, and the fourth. by Represent
alive Montague, at two years.
Chairman Sims vigorously opposed
the two years limitation as adopted,
declaring that it would affect the val
uation of railroad securities Repre-
sentative Montague insisted that at
least two years would be required for
the railroad interests to adjust them
selves after the war. Those voting
for the two-year amendment were Mon
tague. Rayburn, Coady, Dewalt, Shock,
Sanders, Esch, Hamilton, Parker. of
New Jersey; Parker, of New York; Win
slow, billions Sweet, Stiness and Coop
er, and those voting against it were
Sims, Doremus, Stephens, Barley,
Decker and Dale.
The senate committee left unchanged
the original provision in the bill fixing
the rate of compensation on the basis of
the annual railway operating income
for the three years ending on June 80,
expected to agre to this provision which
was suggested by the president
A m n m n forbidding increas-
ed compensation to roads based on their
earnings or surplus accrued during the
period of government control and put
into the property were accepted.
The action authorizing the preside mt
to purchase and construct canals was
amended so as to permit only of their
utilization.
The section providing for an appro-
priation of $500, 100000 to be used as a
revolving fund from which to pay any
deficiencies that may result or to pro-
vide for additional facilities, was re-
tanned by the senate committee. The
fund would provide the government
with working capital for the operation
of the roads.
In providing for the termination of
government control eighteen. months
after the war the senate committee
further amended the bill so as to au-
thorize the president, if in his opinion
necessity for further control should
terminate, to relinquish supervision
over all roads before that time. Discre-
tionary power to determine up to July
/. 1918, what roads are necessary in
the government operation plan also is
placed i'm the president. but after that
time he could not exclude from govern
ment control any road without its con-
sent.
The amendment authorizing the presi-
dent to initiate rates permits appeal
either by the carrier or shipper to the
interstate commerce commission which
is to investigate and determine their
fairness. This section and the one fix
ing the time of government control were
bitterly debated in the committee and,
owing to the wide differences, an ad-
justment was effected only after the
questions had been submitted to a sub
u1ittPc