The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-18
Men Who Draw Big Salaries for
Running Railroads Object
to Government Control.
THEY WANT FEDERAL
AID BUT NOT CONTROL
Railway Executives Ask the
Maximum Of Government
Support and Minimum Of
Regulation.

Philadelphia, Dec. 12.-Railroad
executives representing 125 roads and
J2 per cent CT the mileage of the
country tonight gave out a formal
statement IL w:,:c., they declared that
Director General McAdoo's sugges-
ton that the government retain con-
srol Of the railroads until January,
1924, would simply lead to delay ;;,ld
confusion, q demoralization Of the Or
ganization Of roads both on their cor
porate and operating side and defer
indefinitely Il satisfactory settlement"
Of the railroad problem.
The executives, the statement said,
have reached the conclusion that
there is sufficient tine under the
Germ of the present act to fully consid-
e.. the railroad situation in all its
aspects and arrive at a plan that
woud be just to the country
The statement was given out by
Thomas de Witt Cyler Of the Associa-
ton Of Railway Executives. The state
n1ent fellows:
The standing committee CT the AS
scciation Of Railway Executives have
considered the letter Of the director
general to the chairmen Of the inter
state cona7ae~ce committees OF the
senate and house and have reached
the conclusion that there is sufficient
time under the term Of the present
act to fully consider the railroad sit
uation in it's aspects ana TO arrive at
a PLAN that would be just TO the
country as represented by its shippers
and the public at large and on the
ether hand to the security holders ano
share holders and employees of tbs.
railroads. They are in full accord
with the president in his statement as
follows:
The cne conclusion that I am
ready to state with confidence is that
it would be a disservice alike to the
country and to the owners Of the rail-
roads to return to the old conditions
unmodihed. These are conditions OF
restraint without development. There
is nothing affirmative OF helpful about
them. What the country chiefly ncecs
IS that all these means Of transporta-
ION should be developed, its railways.
its waterways. its highways and rs
countryside roads. Some new element
cf policy Is therefore necessary-nec-
essa1y for the release Of credit tS
those who are administering the rail-
WAYS; necessary for the protection CT
their security holders. The old pol
lev may be changed much or little.
i;ut surely it can not always be left
as it was. hope that the congress
will have a complete and im2artia!
study Of the whole problem institut-
ed at once and prosecuted as rapidly
IS possible
.eThey feel that to at present ex-
tend the time would simply lead to de-
,av and confusion. demoralization OF
tn. organization of the roads both on
their corporate and operating side anG
defer Indefinitely a satisfactory set
tlernent Of this great problem.
"They regret to differ with the di-
rector general, recognizing the able
yav he has managed the roads dur
ing the period Of government control.
but they feel confident that 1t would |
be unnecessary and unwise to extend
+he period of control beyond the
time now provided for under the act
Baltimore, Dec. 12-s. Davies War
field, president of the National Asso-
citation of Owners Of Railroad Securi- !
ties, when asked what the position OF
The association IS in regard to Nc
Adoo's suggestion that the return OF
The railroads be extended for ave
years said:
This association does not pronose
20 precipitatc action VIC HaVe
faith in the congress that it Will see
that when the railroads are returned
within the time specified hy the led
er:l control act it will be dcne under
plans fair alike to the shippers, the
travelling public, labor and to the Sc
curitv ow-,s--s And we have enua!
faith in tae railroad administration