The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-02-17
WORLD UNREST
TOSWEEP AMERICA
us. SENATOR SAYS
CUMNiINS DECLARES RAILROAD
BILL WOULD SADDLE EXTRA
BURDEN ON THE PEOPLE.
TOO MUCH REVENUE
Figures Out S115,OOO,OO0 in Excess Of
What Is Just as Annual Compcnsa.
tion, and Iowau Points as Warning
to What Now Is Taking Place in
Russia.

Washington, Feb. 1G-Spceding mp
Of debate and passage Of the admins
tration railroad bill next week were
urged upon the senate today by admin
istration leaders, who decided the work.
ing out Of the whole transportation
question was being delayed for lack Of
legislation contemplated in the meas
ure, Senator Smith in charge Of the
bill, announced he would seek Monday
to fix a time for a final vote.
Regarding speedy action on the bill
Majority Leader Martin said Director
General McAdoo was much embarrassed
by want of the Legislation, and had
called him on the telephone today to
point out the measures Importance.
Senator Martin said. action is abso-
lutely necessary in order to enable
the administration to carry out the
purpose for which the railroads were
taken over.
81 am not attempting to suggest that
the bill should not be debated" said
Senator Martin, but 1 do suggest and
l appeal to senator's TO speed this bill
to final vote"
Debate on the measure continued to-
day with Senator Cummins, Republican
Of iowa, who Is opposing the proposed
standard Of compensation and Senator
Robinson, supporting the legislation, as
the principal speakers.
Cummins Is Bitter.
There will be no unanimous consent
] a arrpp ms for. 10 - t,v
| Cummns until there has been a free
opportunity to debate the bill.
1T introduces into government rail
road operation the same abominable
profteering that distinguishes other
fields Of governmental activity. The
people will not tolerate the genera
practice Of creating fortunes out Of the
war. There is universal indignation
against it,"
Senator Kellogg, Republican, Of Min
nesota. said he was advised by rail
road managers that the compensation
proposed in the bill is a maximum pro.
vision, and that President Wilson in
tends to so regard it, reducing compen-
sation when it would be excessive.
AHtBeu revenue Return.
The bill, Cummins contended, would
guarantee the New York Central upon
its capital stock a return Of 1886 per
cent; Baltimore & Ohio, 5.S3 per cent:
Pennsylvania, 1872 per cent; Reading,
257 per cent; Jersey Central, POPS per
cent Lackawanna, $3.50 per cent. and
the Michigan Central, las per cent. He
said he intended offering an amendment
to reduce by about $l750OO.Oo0 the
guaranteed compensation to be paid
eghty.siX railroad systems, which
carry from seventy-five to eighty per
cent of the total traffic of the country.
Senator Cummins deplored infliction
Of what he alleged to be additional
burdens on the people, which he said
would be sure to follow il such COM
pensation is paid the railroads.
Warning TO Capitalism.
Would it not be wiser Il the owners
. OF the railroads would recall what il
transpiring in Russia, and what is NOV
ing beneath the surface now in Ger
many. 1t would help them to sound
judgment il their attention was called
to the unrest in Great Britain. 1t is
idle to think America can escape the
spirit of unrest that now Is sweeping
the earth. It's a shock sure to be ex
perienced. Mark my word. the great
multitude will believe that we are tax.
,, ing from them sl75.OOO,OOO more than
they ought to pay. In days to come
they will decide that we have taken
/ from them this sum without reason
justice or necessity, and transferred it
to Golfers now overflowing with riches,
If the senate desires peace and CON
tentment among the people and desires
to preserve stability so we can press
forward for world victory and honor.
let's not do this unjust thing"