The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-05
Pro vi des Compensation for
Owners, Property Maiuse.
nance and Operating Fund
PRESIDENTS SPEECH
BRIEF AND POINTED
If Federal Operation Succeeds.
Sentiment IS Expected to Be
Strong tor Continuing Policy
in Peace

Washington. Jan. 4,--JTThs Amsxs.
can railroads airs not 10 be turned
back 20 their private owners until
congress DEGREES, under the terms of
the administrators railroad bill In
troduced today.
The masures introduced in the
house after The president made
his special address on congress.
cafries behind IL the full weight
and influence OF the chief executives
Section thirteen of the measure
reads:
The federal control tranSporta-
ton system herein and heretofore
provided for shall continue for and
during periods of the wa9 and until
congress shall thereafter order other.
wise"
The bill was introduced by Chair
man Sims, of the house inferstat@
commerce committee, who viii handle
the situation in the lower branch.
The measure is understood to nave
ben prepared after consultation with
Director General McAdoo.
It carries with II guara ntees that
the governnaent will compensate thu
private owners on the basis OF this
net railway operating income FOR
the three years ending June 30. 1917;
stipulstes that the government shah
maintain the roads in as god condt-
ton as hey have been in under prt-
vase control; and authorizes the nss
Of government funds up 10 $500, o09.~
600.
Prompt action will be taken ny cou-
gress in the passage of the measure
thourh there are objections to the
bill from the more radical elements
nong these the contention lie THAI
the rate OF compensation Is too liberal
There is also demand for outright
government ownership. For this
Senator johnson Of California fatty
declared today. He held that the
state Of affairs which made necessary
government operation of the roads
proved the inability Of the private
mana gers to meet an emergency.
Presidents Address Closely Followed
A full attendance OF both the house
and senate and weil-hlled gaiiwies
heard the presidents speech, Willis
there was lacking that fervor that at
tended the reading OF his epochai
war messages against Germany and
Austria. his address was closely fol-
lowed and literally appiauded-
While the president was before con-
gress. Director General McAdoo. at
the other end OF the city. was wrest-
ling with the gigantic task OF running
orders to overcome the traffic conges-
ton.
with a sweep of the pen he took over
the docks along a good part OF New
Yorix's water front, and Washington
was full OF reports tonight that the
terminal facilities st other Atlantis
seaports are to Re seized.
Wage Board Planned.
Following second conference with
the representatives OF the railroad
brotherhoods, Mr.. McAdoo announced
an agreement -or the creation OF =
wage board to handle all questions re-
lating to the wages OF the employees
during the period OF government OPP
Grafton.
Section I3 of the bin In interpreted
bv congressman who have seen II a.
meaning that the railroads will not
70 back TO their private owners un-
less congress shall specifically ana
so provide. Commenting
on II. Democratic Leader kitch!n said:
There can be no Misunderstanding
OF that section. The simple failure OF
congress to act would continue gov
eminent operation One nlihustering
senator could perpetuate government
control for years"
Both representatives and senator's
were so intent on President Wilson'S
urging OF guarantees and the Language
OF the bill providing those guarantees
that not until late in the afternoon
was the inconspicuous little section
When it was II monopo- 4
lized interest. Chairman Sims said:
THAT provision means just what Il
says. We CANNOT tell what conditions
~ill exist when the war ends and We
must reserve the right to legislate n
then seems best.
1--WE are entering the greatest test
OF government ownership ever pre-
sented. II government operation sue
ceeds. the sentiment for ownership
viii! be 80 strong that nothing can
Withstand II, Ii Il fails, the theory
will be so dead that nothing can resur-
rect IT.
The paragraph is pronounced dcu-
bly, significant, because the whale bill
was drawn under the direction Of
President Wilson and Secretary Mo-
Adoo and introduced frankly a. An 3
measure by Chair1nau
Sims.
Identical BilI In Senate.
The identical bin that went into -
house hopper was introduced IN thu
senate by Senator Smith. Of South
Carolina. acting chairman OF the aoG
ate conmerce committee =
Hearings on tho hill win bssa1