The Washington times., 1918-01-27
Honorocc What 1t Did
OO1lSAO0O 7 esterday
The Trunk Line Railroads Express Confidence in the President
and Director General McAdOO Fna Statement Of Their At
tude The Meat and Hide Trust in the House Private
Pensions and Conscience Ships Preparing to VEL
come Secretary Baker.
Bv ". v. BYARs.

before the Senate COmmittee on
Interstate Commerce, Judge Alfred
p. Thorn, as the authorized represen-
tative of the great trunk lines, re-
newed their ultimatum yesterday.
He added to 1t, to cover the develop
ment of opposition since the Presi-
dents address in Joint session. as
explained by the Immediate introduc-
tion OF what has been called the
Administration BILL"
The subsequent developments show
that Director General McAdoo is in
favor Of the bill, substantially as II
stands. The Senate committee is not.
Members of the Senate committee
may be imagined as capable Of radi-
cal opposition on the floor Of the
chamber.
Judge Thorn made what is perhaps
the most solmenly impressive rail-
road argument ever delivered in
Washington.
He was SO impressive that 1t was
almost impossible not to attach at
least a hundred per cent Of its par
value to all he said-whjle he was
saying II.
Afterwards, Of course the ques-
tion was Of what be really meant by
it. The great revolutionary act Of
taking possession Of one-seyenth OF
the property of the Union" filled him
with deep and earnest solicitude for
the consequences IL what the Presi-
dent has called unjust injury" is
done TO the owners OF this vast
property.
Is this to be done? Certainly the
President is not willing" Judge
Thorn said. Certainly the Presi-
dent is able to see as far around
this question as any man in public
or private Fife" He
knows what the needs of the war
are, what the needs of the country
are"
Judge Thorn was equally compli-
mentary to Director General Nc
Adoo. And. above all, to IL t Supreme
Court. He defined the supreme
need as a prompt and fair agree
ment" with the railroads. thus pre-
venting the terrible calamity of liti-
cation, with a decline in the value
of their securities, which support
the financial system of the country
especially the savings banks on
which so many widows and orphans
depend. In his pictures of public
distress, resulting from distressing
his clients. Judge Thorn was compa-
rable to Michael Angelo painting the
Last Judgment"
What prompt and fair agree
ment" on railroad terms means be-
yond the relief bill as first reported,
was the riddle after he had con-
cluded his convincing plea.
1t was felt certain that they want
all the President and Director Gen
eral McAdoo may, can, or must give
them. 1t was LEFT entirely possible
that if they cannot get more, they
will be satisfied with this. But
Judge Thom's earnestness was cal
culated to convince all who heard
him that it will be a grievous thing
not to give them more.
the base Of the year ended Decem-
Der %, 1917, when they were taken
over They want a time limit of one
year put into section 13, in which
time after peace they are to be put
back into possession, with rent paid
AMI everything in the best order
And beyond this, among other
things, they want for the future
equal and exact justice" on some
comprehensive improvement OF
British precedents."
This. though Judge Thorn did not
mention II. may be what is meant as
something better than public owner
ship" which is to take the place of
"the old competitive base"
In the House yesterday Mr.. Dor
land of Kansas City forced issues on
striking out the last word" Of sec
ton of the agricultural hill. Usual
ly this sort of an offer &c amend
bill permits the introduction of any
subject. AS the author Of the resolu-
tiOn which began the investigation
of the Chicago Meat and Hide
Trust" Borland began talking of the
corruption" exposed by the Federal
Trade Commission.
1t was under rules which, for the
time being. required the discussion 10
be "germane to the question" Mr.
Madden of Chicago objected The