The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1912-1921, 1918-12-12
M ADOO RECOMM' DS
FIVE: YEAR GOVT
CONTROL RAILROADS
SAYS THIS WOULD GIVE A FAIR
TRIAL OF GOVERNMENT
OWNERSHIP.
SECRETARY FEELS THAT PRES
EMIT CONTROL WILL NOT LAST
LONG ENOUGH.
RAILROAD OWNERS AND MANA
GERS ANXIOUS TO GET ROADS
BACK UNDER THEIR CONTROL.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11,-Continu-
alton of Government control OF rail-
roads for five years, or until January
u. 1924, was recommended today by
Director-General McAdoo in letter to
the chairmen of the Senate and House
Interstate Commerce Commission.
This would permit fair trial of
Government operation. said Mr.. Nc
Adoo and eliminate the unsettled con.
dition under which the railroads must
be operated during the next year or
two II their status Is not changed ma
terially by legislation.
This recommendation il not made
in support of any theories concerning
the best ultimate policy Of running the
railroads. Mr.. McAdoo explained. but
only to give the nation time to form
its ideas carefully.
The Director-General explained that
1t is impossible to retain the roads III,
der Government control for II months
after the declaration ef peace withaas
further legislation. wing TO tao trafa
on the morale Of officers and emplu
es. and pointed out the difficulty 81
obtaining comprehensivellegi OH
tho subject soon.
President Wilson in his recent adj
dress ~ Congress said be was unable
TO decisfe what should be done with
the railroads, and asked Congress to
take up The question for discussion inn
mediatoIy He declared that unless ac-
tion was forthcoming he would be
forced TO turn back the roads to prf-
vate management.
Acting under this plan, the Rail
road Administration has been prepar-
ing to relinquish control or the rail.
roads, and 1t was the general under.
standing that the Administration would
wait two or three months before act
ually starting the REIMBURSEMENT pro.
ceedings TO give Congress chance to
act. Recent developments have shown
policy at this time however, accord
ing to Railroad Administration off,
Gals.
Most railroad owners and managers
are said to have urged that the roads
be relinqulshed, but hnder some sort
OF remedial legislation giving them
power to pool their resources and
eliminate wasteful competition There
have been no important advocates of
restoration Of the old conditions, ac-
cording to officials. On the other hand,
the friends of Govern ment ownership
have just begun to renew agitation Tor
retention by the Gov eminent on per-
manent control, and later purchase of
the roads property.
When the Railroad Control bill was
enacted, Mr.. McAdoI1 urged that the
period of control not be limited to 81
months after the formal close of the
war, saying this would not give OPP
portunity for a real test of Govern
ment management AT that time he
expressed himself as opposed to Gov.
eminent ownership
Recently he again expressed dsaI
pointment that Government manage.
ment had such limitations, saying thai
there was danger of the railroad Ques-
ton becoming a political issue in the
elections OF 1920. This would be lln-
fortunate, he said, because the rail
road question was purely economic.
and should not properly be entangled
with political issues.