The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-24
PLAN is MOOTED
FOR PERMANENT
ROADS CONTROL
Interstate Commerce Com
mittee of the House Dis
cusses Quick Action.
OPPONENTS SEE DANGER
Chairman Sims, Who FavOrs
Idea, Will Be Guided by
Majority Opinion.
OPPONENTS SEE DANGER

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-A measure
for complete and immediate Govern
ment control OF the railroads instead
of the McAdoo plan to extend the
present Government control for five
years is a possibility that is receiving
consideration II was admitted to-
night by Democratic members OF the
House Interstate Commerce Commit
tee.
Supporters and opponents OF the
McAdoo plan agreed that putting It
into effect would mean almost in
evitable Government control at the
expiration OF the five-year period. The
fight in Congress for and against the
Administration plan will be waged on
, this basis and II is now being seri-
ously considered whether It would not
be wiser move to substitute for the
McAdoo plan a programme for pro-
viding for the outright purchase of
, the railroads by the Government now
Chairman Sims OF the Interstate
Commerce Committee unreservedly is
for Government control OF the rail-
roads. He Is prepared. however. to
take the action Of the majority OF his
committee as the guide for his posi-
tion and will not press any measure
for immediate Government ownership
unless he Is backed up in It by the
committee he heads.
Would Run Roads at Cost.
! II believe that Government control
OF transportation facilities Is the only
correct system" Mr. Sims told THE
! SrS correspondent tonight. "I do
not believe the public should be forced
TO pay more than the actual cost OF
transportation Of passengers and
, freight. 1t should not be made to pay
! a profit to the owners of the facilities.
! "In many cases not only is a profit
, ruid from charges assessed against the
! travelling and shipping public on the
money actually invested in the roads
! but on stock issues which are only
! " ater' and do not represent actual in
vestment The appreciation OF the
values Of rights of way must be made
| to show a profit, and this also Is taken
! liAto dCCOuHi py ldilioehuS All pIiNdbc
hands"
! Admissions to-day by members OF
the Interstate Commerce Committee
that adoption Of the McAdoo plan for
FIVE year extension OF Government
control of the railroads meant Govern
n,ent ownership in the end is the first
admission OF this sort from proponents
OF the legislation.
Opponents Are Embarrassed.
Opponents of the plan are embar-
rassed TO some extent in their efforts
TO defeat It by what they construe 10
be the virtual threat ff the Admins
tratIon to turn the roads back to pri-
vate ownership as they are unless
speedy action Is taken by Congress.
Fear is expressed that this method
of forcing action by Congress will de-
prive opponents OF the Administration
plan of one of their strongest legisla.
tive weapons, that of using tactics ol
delay 80 as to throw the railroad Ques-
ton into the next Congress. which will
not be under the domination OF the
Administration.
Beyond preparation of a measure II
is certain no new move in the railroad
situation will be made at least unit
January 2, when Director-General Nc.
Adoo will appear before the Senate In.
terstate Commerce Committee to begir
an explanation OF his plans This al
ready has been virtually pledged by
the Railroad Administration to quie
rumors that immediate return of the
| railroads 10 Driyate ownership Is COn.