Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-11-07
Jan. l Definitely
Fixed as Date For
(. Return of Roads

Washington. Nov. 7.--Congress has
received definite word from Railroad
Director w. d. Hines that President
Wilson will restore the railroads TO
their owners Jan. /. The president,
it is stated will not be deferred In
this purpose by any failure OF congress
to pass adequate railroad legislation,
without which it has been asserted
financial catastrophe would result.
This information, while not unex-
pected, had a startling eject upon con-
sresS. Senator A. b. Cunmins OF Iowa,
TO whom Director Hines made known
The presidents determination, iuimeui-
ateiy Called meeIlng Oh the interstate
commerce coinm!ulee, OF wnich ne Ia
cnslrnan.
" was decided some temporary legis-
| lation must Do rushed thru .lI the pre-
sent session TO Iu9et the situation
until tne permanent Legislation can
De enacted. senator CuIunlns mad a
conference With Chairman john j.
Escn OF the house COMMITTEE on in
terstate and foreign commerce. and it
was decided to call u meeting next
week for the purpose of framing the
temporary Legislation. Senator Cum
plns, Mr. Lsch, Director Hines aud
the railroad executives viii attend the
meetings.
Wilson Set on Return.
When President wilson last Decem-
Der told congress he would return tho
railroads to their owners at an early
Date without further legislative action,
his statement was characterized In
many quarters as a bluff to force ac-.
ceptance OF the McAdoo plan for nno
Years OF continued government control.
| Lately. however. there have been au-
| thentic signs that the president meant
| to carry out the threat. Senator Cum
mins warned the senate Monday he
had good reason to believe, the preSi-
dent meant to make good his state
ment and told the senate such action
would bring financial disaster. He
| undertook to impress upon the senate
the necessity for prompt action on the
pending railroad bill. ....
After his conference with Director
Hines. Senator Cummins save out this
| statement: .-."
1--WE are informed definitely the rail-
roads will be returned by the president
! to the Companies on Jan. /, 1920. In
that stud Jon. and with the uncer-
| tainty about passing much needed le-
gislation before they are returned, the
senate committee on interstate com
, merce has been in a conference to con-
slider taking steps to pass temporary
measures to make the traditional
period easier. By that I mean, parti-
cularly. the extension OF the suaran-
teed income for some brief period until
the permanent reconstruction legisla-
tion can be passed.
| Struggle in Prospect. ~@
1T Is not true the effort to pass per-
manent railroad legislation at this, ,ses-
sion has been abandoned. Quite tho
contrary. The house will undoubtedly
pass a BILL"
The exact form Of the temporary
Legislation will not be determined I'M
til next week, but the genearl outlines
have practically been decided. 1t viii
lprovide for the restoration Of the roads
to their former owners and for a con-
tinuance Of the government guarantee.
All the controversial subjects. such as
the antistrike provisions OF the Cum
Minis railroad bill, will be carefully
avoided in the temporary legislation In
the interest of speedy action. Indi-
cations are that a long parliamentary
struggle Is in store on the Cummins
| bill .n.. sr