American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-05-16
REPUBLICANS PLAN EARLY AC-
TI0N ON RAILROAD PROBLEMS
All Lines Of Business, Agriculture and
Industry Agree That National Pros
perity Awaits Retirement of Trans
portation Systems OF the Country.
KY John Snnre.

ny bNHu NuHiN
Washington-W Within the next two
or three weeks, important informal
con ferences over prospective railway
legislation will be held here among
Senate and House Republican leaders.
Conferences will be held, in fact,
with reference to numerous legisa-
tive subjects, but the question of
what to do about the railroads looms
up foremost. With the exception Of
the League of Nations, the railroad
problem is regarded by Senators and
House members as the greatest task
which oonfronts them. The problem
is one which can neither be post
poned nor neglected. TIE public Is
demanding that something be done
to lift the country's transportation
system out ofthe mire of uncer-
tainty; out OF the depths of those
methods OF mismanagement by the
railroad administration about which
there Is 10 end of complaints.
While the war lasted, the Amer
lean people were patient with the
railroad administration, just as they
were patient with many other inef-
llcient parts of the government
| machinery II there was resentment
over the way the rates We're Increased
over the disregard shown the ex-
perience OF the Interstate commerce
commission, and over the disposition
TO trample on thh state railroad and
held in check If there was a feeling
that the service was not what II
might have been made, that feeling
was for the most part maske.
Complaints Roll IN.
| But that time has passed. Now
that the war is over the country Ii
\ impatient to proceed with the vast
work OF reconstruction in genera
and particularly the task of straigh
ening out the railroad tangle
Throughout last winter and spring
an increasing tide of complaint hal
rolled In on members of Congress
about the shortcomings OF the rail-
road administration and an increas
ing demand that Congress at tn
earliest practical time take up tn
railroad issue and settle II for year
TO come. All lines OF industry prac
tically agree that until there is leg
islation to put the railroads on a neN
and reasonably permanent footinl
the country will be In an unsettle
condition. They agree that In orde
to restore the nation to normal, IN
public must know what sort OF
transportation system 1t Is TO hay
and whether that system Is to
adequate to handle the constant
growing traffic.
Had the recommendation
70 William G.. McAdoo, backed up b
: President Wilson, been followed
J the last session OF Congress, III
r period OF government operation
s the railroads would have been e'
y tended seyral years longer. But
4 was impossible to secure such an g!
}, tension The reasons are Obyiou
n Disappointment over the way Il
roads had been operated by the raj
n road administration was felt In Coz
& gress without much regard 10 part
g There was not from the outset az
g chance OF getting the much Bought-f'
j. extension Of time granted even viii
e the Democrats were In control
e Congress. Believers iB governme
II ownership and operation were a
i- grieyed because hey felt the raj
} road administration had made
botch Of it's job, and were In son
It respects even more antagonists
an extension than those who hi
no faith in government Operati'
l. from the first.