The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-12-12
NCADOO PLAN TO
KEEP ROADS FOR
five YEARS IS.
HOTLY OPPOSED.
Senator Kellog Insists They
Were Taken For War
Purposes Only go.
(By Associated Press.>

(By Associated Press.)
Washington, Dec. 12.-Secretary
McAdoo's proposal to keep the rail-
roads under government control un-
til 1924, met instant criticism from
the Republican side when the senate
convened today. Senator Kellogg of
Minnesota declared that a PROPOSE
tion for permanent government own
ership of railroads is at the bottom of
the whole thing.
Referring to Mr.. McAdoo's letter
to the congressional interstate COM
merce commission made public last
night, Senator Kellogg said: 1T is
a most remarkable document, COM
ing as it does a few days after the
address of the President in which
the President said he had no iudg-
ment OF his own"
Before Senator Kellogg spoke the
senate committee decided to meet
Thursday to discuss the railroad
problem.
The railroads were taken over for
war purposes" said Senator Kellogg.
1T was denied then that 1t was to
test government ownership. Now
Mr.. McAdoo comes making a propo-
sal for g. five year test A test of
government ownership really is at
the bottom OF the whole thing"
Declaring congress can immedi-
ately act on railroad legislation
Senator Kellogg said he favored uni
fed operation under "a strong gov
ernment control together with feder-
al regulation of railroad securities" !"
The railroad administration has no
intention OF reducing wages of rail-
nf fu
declared 1T was stated authorita-
lively today, and If the period of
government control is extended for
five years as suggested by Director
General McAdoo, 1t is probable that
wages will stay at their present level.
(By Associated Press.)
Washington, Dec. 12.-Extension
Of the period Of government control
OF railroads for FIVE years, until jan
aary /, 1924, was recommended to
congress last night by Director Gem
eral McAdoo. Advantages Of this,
Mr.. McAdoo said, are that 1t would
take the railroad question out of
politics for the present, give time
for carrying out an extensive pro-
gram Of improvements, and provide
opportunity for q fair test OF uni
fed control to indicate the perman-
ent solution of the railroad prob
lem.
THE President has given me per-
mission to say that this conclusion
accords with his own view of the
matter" Mr.. McAdoo concluded.
The letter was addressed to Sena-
tor Smith OF South Carolina and
representative Sims, chairmen, re-
spectively, of the senate and house
Interstate commerce committees.
Mr.. McAdoo explained that to con-
tinue government operation for 21
months after formal declaration of
peace under present conditions would
mean disruption of morale among
employees and officers and could not
enable the government to go ahead
with improvements and purchase of
equipment. Another alternative, the
prompt return OF the railroads to
private control, without legislation
to permit elimination of the old
wasteful competition, would be
Hhurtful alike to the public interest
and to the railroads themselves" he
said, and the difficulty OF obtaining
immediate legislation providing a
permanent solution, is apparent.
The One Alternative.
There is one, and TO my mind only
one, practicable and wise alterna-
tive" Mr.. McAdoo continued, "and
that is to extend the period OF fed
eral control from the one year and
nine months provided by the present
law to FIVE years or until the first
day of January, 1924. This extern
sion would take the railroad question
out of politics for a reasonable per-
iod. 1t would give composure to
railroad officer and employees. 1t
would admit of the preparation and
carrying out Of comprehensive pro-
gram of improvements OF the rail-
roads and their terminal facilities.
which would immensely increase the
efficiency Of the transportation ma
chine. It would put back of the
railroads the credit of the United
States during the five year period so
that the financing OF these improve
ments could be successfully carried
out. 1t would offer the necessary OPP
portunity under proper conditions TO
test the vale OF unified control and
the experience thus gained would OF
itself indicate the permanent soIu-
tion OF the railroad problem.
"The American people have a right
to this test. They should not be
denied 1t. 1t is to their interest
that II should be done. In my opin-
ion it is the only practicable and
reasonable method Of determining
the right solution OF this grave econ
omic problem.
Has No Theory Himself.
Il am not now and have not been
for the past year interested in
proving or disproving the theory Of
government ownership OF any other
kind OF theory. The railroads have
been operated for the past year with
the purpose OF serving efficiently the
paramount needs of the war and atI
the same time furnishing the best
possible service to the public, whetf-
er such operation tended to prove 0rI
to dlsproye any theory OF railroad
control no matter what 1t might be
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