Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-08
EARLY RETURN
OF ROADS URGED
Clark Believes Congress
Should Take Power to Act
Away From President
IL MONTHS AMPLE TINE
Executives Desire Private Op-
Grafton Under Control of
Secretary of Transportation

BY the Associated Press
Washington, Jan. s.--Congress. aud
not the President, should determine when
the railroads are to be turned back to
private management said Interstate
Commerce Commissioner Edgar T.. clark
today, continuing his testimony before
tho Senate Interstate commerce COM.
mittee at the hearing on railroad legis-
lauon. Yesterday he submitted "A state.
ment from the commission recommends
ing private operation Of the carriers
under strlcter Government supervision.
IF ! had my way" said Mr.. clark
u would have Congress fix the date on
which railroads should be turned back.
This should he sufficiently far in adj
vance 10 permit the roads to preparr
Tor changed conditions, and then all this
uncertainty and disruption Of morals.
which is talked about SO much. would
be prevented.
Congress Ought 10 Derid.
70 state II bluntly, | think Congros.
ought TO withdraw from the President
me power n turn back the roads on an
nour notice, and Congress itself ought
10 determine when this shall be"
me commissioner explained that lie
oeieNed most of the legislative and on
erating reforms proposed by advocates
OF unlhed opera ton could be effected
wen VI me railroads We're relinquished
oefore Congress had a chance TO act
such action, however would distrlrb
nnancial arrangements. he said, and
might hamper the roads in starting right
On their new basis
Mr.. Clark also empha sized his opirljnu.
that another Year OF unified operation
under Government control would he
suricient to permit Congress to get all
necessary Information from which TO
formulate new legislation.
Il cannot see h.. said THAT ron
tinued operation would she'd any more
light on conditions. W. an have our
opinion of what IN" situation would be-
at the end of hVe-year period"
In connection with his recommpuda-
ton for immediate legislation ,o aunul
the Presidents power to turn back th..
railroads Immediately, Commissioner
Clark said all of the commissions mrm-
bers except Mr.. Woolley concur In tha,
opinion.
The Government. Mr.. Clark said js
obligated to pay annually to railroads
under GoNernment control the sum uf
>s2s,9bo,9S2. This is somewhat luor,.
than the estimat" Of the railroad admin
istratlon which recently advised The
committee that the aunua! Goy-rnm,ur
obligation is less than $500 ooo 900
Mclean Warns Of Possible. Vet,
Senator Mclean Of Connecticut. roiuf.
'd out mat legislation to rn,ok. I'm.
presidents power {" turn back I'M.
properties Immediately would b. ann.
'uIt to get through congress. rmul,,-
hzing the possibility Of an Executiy.
veto. Also, senator Mel can said. tin.
administration apparently has engaged
propaganda ia behalf of Mr Me-
adoos hve-year exhaustion program.
Short line railroad interests were
brought up by Senator Underwood Of
alahama, who asked Commissioner
clark how the short lines could he pru.
'ected II congress should enact lagisIa-
ion authorizing mergers Of trunk lines.
Mr.. Clark repi ed that tn" mtrrsiai.
Commerce commission could he given
wide authority to disapprovr trunk line
mergers unless short line interests are.
protected
Senator Mel .eau, Of rouu-cticur, arI.,
Toned Mr.. Clark concerning the pfl-,f
IF Government operation of good roads
that have gone wrong ike The New
haven. Many s'ockhu'u-r~ Of the New
Haven, said Senator Mclean hat writ
en- him urging Government ownership
believing their stock would h" redcemrl
thereby.
Mr.. clark said f tn. Goyegnmou
should acquire tn" property it wou1,
pay something like The real value"
Then you tuiuk that If the tiuNpru
ment was 10 buy this road" question:,
Senator Mclean, there would h, no
mu\ equity for the S,orkho.drrS".'
That is my impression" replied NJ
Glars
Private operation hest
Senator rUmm.ns. 81 Iowa. asked.
which, In Your opinion. is more q
ncient, Government or private uurra
tom
private operation" replied Mr.. D'ar,
There Is a larger incentive for saNiuq
less probability OF EXPENSES for meet ~
the insistenCc Of certain localities. an
private control Of any large indus,r
is more likely to insure IA" adoption an
use OF improved m.thodS'
Senator fummins asked
what part of this opinion is bu So
on the fear OF political influence"
IA The pressure from this source. n.
sponded Mr.. clark, would undouhl,dI
bring about many expenditures whir
business men would not consider n,
Nisable."
lis any part OF this opinion base
an the idea that the pay Of employ,
should be reduced
A"Not at an replied the ,omnt