New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
Delay Is Hindering Amer.
ica's War Plans, Senate
Is Told
Debate Brings Out
/. Discordant Views
Senator Martin Defends
Bill; Cummins Sees ADD
ed Burden on People

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-Speedlng
.lup of debate and passage of the Ad-
ministration railroad bill next week
were urged upon the Senate to-day by
Administration leaders, who declared
the working out of the whole trans
-rortation question was being delayed
for lack of legislation contemplated in
the measure. Senator Smith, Of Mich-
gan, chairman OF the Senate Commerce
Committee, who is charge of the bill,
announced that he would seek on Mon
day to fix a time for final vote.
@ In urging speedy action on the bill.
Majority Leader Martin said Director
General McAdoo was much embar-
rassed By the want of the legislation
] and had called him on the telephone
to-day to point out the measures i'm
portance.
n am not attempting to suggest that
she bill should not be debated" said
| Senator Martin, "but I do suggest and
DO appeal to Senator's to speed this
;, bill to q final vote"
Debate Continues
Debate on the measure continued to-
day. with Senators Cummins, Repub-
lican, who is opposing the proposed
standard of compensation and Senator
Robinson, of Arkansas, Democrat, sup
porting the legislation, as the principal
=. speakers. The Iowa Senator reiterated
lor hot 10
:, turn provided in the measure would be
= excessive, and sounded warning
g against taking any step that would re
!, suit in spirit or unrest II the coun-
. try. as it would retard prosecution of
, the war.
. Senator Robinson, in reply, declared
! that the compensation provided was no
4 greater than would be fixed by court,
+, and pleaded for quick enactment of the
bill.
Senator Watson plans to discuss the
bill on Monday and Senator johnson,
+ OF California, will speak on Tuesday.
Will Move Cautiously
'There will be no unanimous consent
agreement for vote" declared Sena-
tor Cummins, until there has been
free opportunity to debate the bill.
"The people will not tolerate the
general practice of creating fortunes
out Of the war. There is universal in
!. dlgnatlon against it."
( Senator kellogg. Republican, Of Min
. nesota, said he was advised by the rail
ROAD managers that the compensation +
!, proposed in the bill was a maximum
i provision. and that President Wilson
!, intended to so regard it, reducing com
+ pensatlon when it would be excessive
Ihe Dill, Senator Cummins contended.
would guarantee the New York Central
upon its capital stock return of 1896
per cent; Baltimore & Ohio, 5.83 per
4 cent; Pennsylvania, 1892 per cent:
ne Meading, Zo-' per cent; Jersey Central, /
zs.20 per cent; Lackawanna, 1890 per
Z cent, ana the Michigan Central, 18.48
per cent. He said he intended Offering
an an amendment an to reduce by about SITS |
!, . Ioo'ooo the guaranteed compensation to |
!, De paid eighty-six railroad systems.
e which carry from rs to so per cent Of
Il the total traffic OF the country.
2 senator Cummins deplored what he |
IS sad would be the infiction of addi-
/. ,ional burdens on the people if such
+, added: '''i '<'0'' liz
:. Warns of Unrest
:. YOU'D 1t not be wiser if the owners
ol the railroads would recall what is
:, =, ;lahsplrlng in Russia and what is NOV
tl .ns peheath the surface now in Ger
= 11Iahy, and the unrest in Great Britain?
~ ~ Is IDLE to think that America can es-
>"pg pT Ihe unrest now sweeping the earth. /
A. me great multitude will believe /
+. ona ona' we are taking from them SITS 900. ,
!: vJJ u,I, more than they ought to pay, and
:, III un oeclde that we have taken from
= transferred it to Golfers now 9 over7am aau
= ing with riches '''"
e senator Robinson urged early enact
I, mem ment of the bill as a var measure Of
MA. asa. Importance, both to the govern
ment and to the public
y eyist;I 10 desirable he said, "to end the
esS'ssttlng a. uncertainty as to the Status
J, o.. y. tne railroads and the policy of tho
svsefnment ss y IN the operation of tn.
Believe Figures Just
rc senator Robinson took issuc With
y sta e.s,or Cummins on the point that the
4 .ba .be"aard a.,rd OF compensation provided in
Z rat,. at oiii guaranteed unnecessarily high
/, 'slnurns 10 the carriers.
@epiylng to Senator kellogc's state
: I"s .sI;s mat President Wilson's action in
saA'ag over control of the railroads vas
= said: ''o 81 "a"sa' senator
! o,o..1 oelieve that Federal control and
m"a. npvnation were necessary; indeed, al
most unavoidable.
! f,.Ie me supreme crisis which now con-
= na, ,nonss civilization will probably b.
+ Sasa SSassea within the next six months"
Z rI"eor ,rs Robinson continued. eve need
, aI rs;iuust must have a unified control of the
WAYS we need and must have a
I erst;a st;ious and efficient policy in the op-
sianh ias.oh OF them. This measure is de-
! sasa saea TO facilitate that end It's pas
I and "a - awaited by the Administration
, '''a the public with anxiety"
! ! Won Bernstortf Linked
] R,xII g II.