Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1918-03-01
SENATE PASSES
RAILROAD BILL
Administration Measure Is Ap-
proved by Viva Voce Vote.
WIDE POWERS FOR PRESIDENT
Cummins Amendment to Take Over
Short Line Roads Adopted-Gov-
eminent to Control Carriers 10
Months After War.

Washington, Feb. 23.-The admins
tration railroad bill passed the senate
on Friday by viva voce vote.
Before passing the measure the SEN
ate adopted a resolution Of Senator
Cummins of Iowa directing the govern
ment to take over all short line roads
representing an investment of $1,000
600 or more.
This was practically the only change
of Importance effected. On all other
points the administration forces held
firm.
Bill Grants Wide Powers.
The important provisions of the bill
as passed in the senate are:
1. The president is to fix the rate OF
compensation for the railroad owners
for the use of their property on the
basis of their average earnings for the
years 1915, 1916 and 1917.
1t is estimated this will involve the
payment by the government to the
owners of $950,O0O,OOO each year.
An amendment by the committee to
reimburse the roads for improvements
made during the six months ended De
cember 81, 1917, was rejected by the
senate. This would have made neces-
sary the payment of about $15,OOO,OOO
additional
2. Rates for freight and passenger
traffic are to be initiated by the presi-
dent whenever advisable, but final jur-
iSdictiOn in all rate changes rests with
the interstate commerce commission.
The original bill proposed by Direc-
tor General McAdOO would have given
the president supreme authority in the
matter of fixing rates.
3. The control and operation Of the
railroads by the government is to cease
at the end of is months after the end
of the war. AS originally presented to
congress the bill left the period to con-
troll open. The house bilD fixed the time
limit at two years after the end of the
war.
Reject Proposed Changes.
More than a dozen amendments were
disposed of during the day. Hundreds
of short speeches were made under the
tive-minute rule.
The bill now goes to the house,
where general debate on a similar
measure has practically closed, and
where almost hundred amendments
are pending.
Next to the inclusion of the short
line railroads, the most interesting step
of the day was the rejection of amend
ments by Senator Cummins to limit the
government return to the roads to not
more than per cent upon their capt.
tai stock.
Senator Cummins' amendment af-
fecting the short lines was adopted
by SO to IL.
One section of the bill allows the
president to buy and sell railroad Sc
curities and turn the proceeds over to
the revolving fund. Objections were
made to this by Senator Kirby of Ar
kansas, who said it ''was dabbling in
stocks"
Vote on Short Lines.
The vote on the Cummins amend
ment to bring the short lines into the
federal system follows:
FOR THE AMENDMENT.
Democrats.
Ashurst, Beckham, Fletcher, Gore,
Hardwick, Henderson, Hitchcock, Hol-
lis, Johnson Is. d., James IN. NJ,
Lewis, Mcclellan, Martin, Myers, Nu
gent, Overman, Phelan, Pittman, Rams
dell, Reed, Robinson, Shepard,
Shields, Simmons, Smith (Ariz.),
Smith (Ga.), Smith Is. c., Stone,
Swanson, Thomas, Tillman, Trammell,
WOlcOtt-33.
Republicans.
Cummins, Curtis, Dillingham;, Fer
nald, France, Frelinghysen, Gronna,
Hale, Harding, Johnson (Cal), Jones
(Wash). Kenyon, Knox, Lodge, Nc
Cumber, McNary, Nelson, New, Norris,
Page, Sherman, Smith (Mich.), SmOot,
Sterling, Warren-25. Grand total-5S.
AGAINST THE AMENDMENT.
Democrats.
Bankhead, Gerry, Kendrick, King,
Kirby, Pomerene, Salisbury, Shafroth,
Underwood, Vardaman-1O.
Republicans.
kellogg, Poindexter, Townsend,
Watson. Grand total-14.