The Washington herald., 1918-12-03
CONGRESS TORN
ON R.R.CONTROL
All Agree with President,
However, That Old Con-
ditions Won't Do.

President Wilson's decisive ufterance
against returning the railroads Of the
country to their former owners under
the same old conditions, which was
made in his speech to Congress yes
terday. has forced the issue of rail-
road legislation pre-eminently to the
front.
The question of what to do with
the railroads has suddenly become one
of the biggest issues before Congress.
1t is certain that before the Congress
ends its session some legislation either
for straighout government ownership.
or regulation by the government un-
der private management will be sug-
gested.
The Committee on Interstate Com
merce, in both houses, are ready to
take up the question as soon as any
understanding is reached as TO def
mite program which IL Is believed the
government should follow.
The surprise of the situation which
has developed since the railroads were
taken over is that even the most bit
ter opponents of government owner
ship are opposed to allowing the roads
to revert to the old system of man
agement Senators who are ready to
AsA1 ~ 1iic tiiu dllsl any SOftFn-
ment ownership program, find them
selves today entirely in accord with
the Presidents declaration against re-
turning to the old condition.
Urges Federal Financing.
For example. there is Senator Wat
son who declares himself unalterably
opposed to government ownership, but
who indorses all that the President
said on the subject of returning the
roads to their owners. Senator Wat
son favors NATURALIZATION" of the
roads, their operation as one system
without competition, under some meth
cd by which they will be financed
and controlled by the government, al
though privately owned.
Senator Cummins, who will becorns
the chairman of the important Com
mittee on Interstate Commerce when
the Republicans secure control of the
Senate, is in favor OF an exhaustive
inquiry by Congress into the whole
problem He is in hearty agreement
with the President on the subject.
Senator Smith. of South Carolina,
present chairman of the committee, is
in favor of modified control by the
government, but does not favor gov
ernment ownership.
Senator Lewis, Senator johnson and
Senator Poindexter are among the
strongest advocates of government
ownership.
Senator Underwood believes il will
be impossible to get any legislation
through this session. and that unless
the President calls an extra session he
will be forced to return the roads to
their owners under the old conditions.
For this reason he rs OF the opinion
that Congress should take up the Ques-
ton Immediately through the COM
mittees, so that no time will - lost.
Wants Immediate Action
In the opinion Of Senator Kellogg.
the intermediate course suggested by
the President should be adopted. He
believes Congress should take up the
question at once of some legislation
for the regulation and control Of the
roads.
Senator Watson made this signif-
cant statement:
"I feel quite sure that the tremen-
dous success achieved By the Railroad
Administration in the nine months of
it's control is a most forcible iIlustra-
ton of what can be done under a uni
fed railroad system properly man
aged. Influenced by this example it
may be safely predicted that the
American people will never permit the
American railroads to return to the
old system Of competition l believe
that that system is gone forever"
An announcement of Mr.. McAdoo's
successor is expected today.