New Britain herald., 1918-02-16
Senator Robinson Believes Adop-
 ton Necessary for Progress
WOULD END UNCERTAINTY
Arkansan DiSagrccs With Cummings on Fixing Compensation and With Kellogg, Who Criticized President for Taking Over Lines.

Washington, Feb. 1 6. - Senator Robinson. in discussing the adminis- tration railroad bill today, urged it's early enactment as a war measure of vital importance both to the govern ment and to the public.
 "1t is desirable to end the existing uncertainty as to the status of rail- roads and the policy of the govern ment in the operation of them" de- clared Senator Robinson, "and to take such action as may be necessary to prevent loss and inconvenience to tho public resulting from the lack of necessary arrangements for main tenance and indispensable improve ments. Furthermore the financial plans and policies of the administra- tion can be more rapidly formulat ted and consumated. the enormous funds necessary to secure through Liberty loans and otherwise for the require- mentS of the treasury in the proSecu- tion of the war can be more readily obtained when the VeXing questions connected with this legislation have been answered and the purpose and policy of the government respecting the control and operation of trans portation lines have been definitely fixed by law"
 Supports Compensation.
 Senator Robinson took issue with Senator Cummings that the standard of compensation provided in the bill guaranteed returns unnecessarily high to the carriers. He said the com- pensation "approximates the actual amount of compensation which a court would in all probability award carrier upon trial of it's case''
 Replying to Senator Kellogg's state ment that President Wilson's action in taking over control of the railroads was unnecessary the Arkansas sena- tor said:
 'T believe that federal control and operation were nelseSsary, indeed un- avoidable, and that the president acted wisely in not exercising the powers conferred upon by him by congress to take over the railroads and opera te them in a time of war unless the nec- essty for such action had been rec oGnizcd by public opinion"
 Efforts of the railroad war board to meet the situation were praised but the senator said the board could not make or repeal law and most impor- tant of all, it could not remove the natural obstacles to unified operation
 
 every railroad manager to secure for his line all the business he could ob- tain.
 Fights Unanimous Consent
 Early enactment of the railroad bill was urged today by administrl- ton leaders in the senate, Majority Leader Martin declared the railroad director was much embarrassed for lack of necessary legislation. Chair man Smith Of the Interstate Com- mcrce committee said he would ask Monday for unanimous consent to fix the time for a vote.
 There will be no unanimous con- sent for fixing the time of vote, said Senator Cummings, "until there has been a free opportunity to debate the bill.
 Tt introduces into government railroad operation the same abomin- able profitcering that distinguishes other fields of governmental activity The people will not tolerate the gen. eral practice of creating fortunes out of war There is universal indigna- tion against it.
 Senator Kellogg, republican, of Minnesota. said he was advised by the railroad managers that the compen- |, sation proposed in the bill is a max Wilson intends to so regard it, reduc = ing compensation when it would be easiest.