New-York tribune., 1918-12-13
Executives
Call Rail Control
Proposal Harmful

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 12.-Railroad
executives representing 1876 roads and
92 per cent of the mileage of the coun-
try tonight gave out formal state
ment in which they declared that
Director General McAdoos suggestion
that the government reain control
OF the railroads until January, 1924,
would simply lead to delay and con-
fusion, decentralization of the organi
zation of the roads both on their cor
porate and operating side and defer in
deilnlteiy satisfactory settlement" of
the railroad problem
have reached the conclusion that
there is sufficient time under the
term OF the present act to fully CON
side: the railroad situation in all it's
aspects and arrive at plan that would
be just to the country :"
Various Problems Considered
The statement was given out bv
Thomas De Witt Cuyler PHILADELPHIA.
chairman of the Railway Executives
Advisory Committee, now known as
the Association of Railway Executives.
The association is considering prob
lens that will arise in connection with
the return of the railroad properties
to their private owners.
The statement follows:
Ihe standing committee of the As
soclation of Railway Executives have
considered the letter of the Director
General to the chairman Of the Inter
state Commerce Committees of the Sem
ate and House, and have reached the
conclusion that there is sufficient time
under the term of the present act to
1ully consider the railroad situation in
all Its aspects and to arrive at a plan
that would be just to the country as
represented by its shippers and the
pubic at large and, on the other hand
to the security holders and sharehold-
ers and employees of the railroads.
Wilson's Statement Quoted
"They are in full accord with the
fresldent IN his statement, as follows:
he one conclusion that am ready
to state with confidence is that it would
be a dls-service alike to the country
and to the owners of the railroads to
return to the old conditions unmodifed.
lhese are conditions of restraint with
out development. There is nothing af
llrmatlve or helpful about them. What
me me country chiefly neds is that all
Ihese means of transportation should
ways. it's highways and it's COUNTRYSIDE
Toads: Some new element of policv is
tnerefore necessary for the service Of
the public, necessary for the release of
credlt to those who are administered o.
the railways, necessary for the protec7
ton of their security holders. The old
poilcy may be changed much or little
put surely it cannot always be left as
It was l hope that the Congress will
nave complete and impartial study
OF the whole problem instituted at once
ana prosecuted as rapidly as possible. ;"
Consider Extension Unwise
:, ".They feel that to at present extend
me time would simply lead to delay
and confusion, Decentralization of the
organization of the roads, both on
their corporate and operating side. and
defer indefinitely a satisfactory set
tlement of this great problem.
They regre! to differ with the Di-
rector General, recognizing the able
way he has managed the roads durinp
the period of government control, bni
they feel confident that it would be
unnecessary and unwise to extend the
period of control beyond the time now
provided for under the act"