Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-02-22
OWN ROADS
JOHNSON
ADVISES
California Senator Is
Against Temporary
Control Plan.
NATION TIRED OF
PRIVATE BUNGLING
Railways Have Broken
Down Under Increase
of Traffic.

Washington, Feb. 49-Per-
manent ownership of railroads
rather than government control
for the period of the war, was
advocated by Senator Johnson
Of California today in a speech
opposing the Senate draft of
the administrations railroad
bill.
81 would now take the inevitable
next step in government control of
our railroads." Senator johnson de-
clared, and do whatever might be
essential to make that government
control permanent government own
ership, or at least leave the way open
so that Immediately on the termina-
ton of the war we might follow to its
logical conclusion what already we
have partly done"
The California senator protested Wig
orously the proposed rate of conpen-
satiDn to be paid to the railroads IN
der the provisions of the bill and OPP
posed the senate's plan to turn the
railroads back to private management
Is months after the conclusion of
peace.
In support of his declaration for
government ownership Senator John
son said that the railroads had broken
down under the stress of the last few
months; that, if the country is to have
efficient national transportation the
roads must be nationalized and oper-
ated by one directing head; that the
American people have paid the price
of private ownership and that ode
spite barriers and obstacles, the ma
ton is marching straight to the goal
of public ownership, and the people
at last will come into their own -.
"What this proposed rate means"
added Senator Johnson, sis that the
interest on the outstanding bonds of
the railroads will be paid in accord
ance with the interest rates now
fixed; it means, in addition, that on
the stock of the railroads of the coun-
| try will be paid by the government OF
| the United States something in excess
of 8 per cent. per annum; it means
that this percentage in excess of 8
per cent per annum is paid on all
| the stock of all the railroads; it
means that this percentage (and I
am speaking only of the minimum)
shall be paid by the people of the
United States not only on the lesfti-
mate issues of the stock of railroad
corporations but on every issue of
stock that has been i1legidn1ately is
sued-watered stock estimated at al
most so per cent of the total stock
|
| senting nothing but the greed and
the avarice of railroad magnates."
Senator johnson depressed from his
discussion of the railroad legislation
| to express his approval of President
Wilson's recent stand against secret
diplomacy and the presidents policy
of addressing congress from time to
time in 'the open forum of the
world"
Senator Johnson referred to the
work of the senate commerce COM
mittee, of which he is a member, and
its investigation of the shipping sit
uation Regarding the Hog Island,
Pa, inquiry, he asserted:
I'm one of the contracts entered by
the govenment-that with the Amer
lean International Goa state of af-
fairs beggaring description has de-
veloped. The evidence demonstrates a
wild saturnalia of extravaganza; p
brilliant phantasmagoria of patriotic
pretense. And the pity and the shame
of it are that those who, with a sheer
full and almost studied disrega1& for
every principle of economy, are WY
ing the money of the tax payocs are
some of the great captains OF indus
try of the nation"