New-York tribune., 1919-12-17
Official Family Meets With
out Information as to His
Intentions Relative to Civ
ing Back Lines January /
6O-Day Extension Likely
Senate Rumor Executive Is
Preparing Special Mes
sage; Need Action at Once
NcW York Tribune
y dsh,n0ton Bureau

vASHINGTON. Dec 16. President
wilson's Cabinet WAS disappointed once
,,ore to-day when it failed to hear
lam hin, what he expects to do about
,te return of the railroads. which
.o,+hs sgo ne announced to the coun-
.-r would take place January l. The
Csh;net had no information from any of
.snse close to the President to indicate
.bst he had started the special mes
.sre 70 Congress on the railroads, of
Itch ne spoke in the message de-
ryered early in the month.
officials Of the railroad administra-
.;on which must become exceedingly
sc.ive at once If the roads are going
hack January l. were as much at sea
80 members OF the Cabinet, and the
6srt's intentions extended to men,
bo-s Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission.
Leaders in the Senate. however. who
rsrslly src We'll informed about rail-
-oad affairs SAID today that the Presi-
dent is now engaged in writing his
message or the returns of the railroads
and that he expects to ask Congress
a remain in Washington through the
nolidays to put through the Cummins
bilj In the Senate and take up that bill
and the one passed by the House in
conference without delay. so that leg
station can be completed as quickly
rs possible and sent to him for ap-
provsl or disapproval.
According 70 these Senators. the
President feels that Congress has had
plenty Of warning that the roads were
70 90 back January l and that it has
ls,iied long enough with general rail
sncc he does not desire to minimize.
From these same Senators comes the
,ias that the President, in view Of
he shortness of the time, will not
row turn the carriers back the first
Il tie year but will give them perhaps
sixty days IL which to accommodate
hense,ves to the new conditions
which would confront them as con-
sequence Of the necessary unscram-
bling
Emergency legislation could be put
.hrough Congress in 4 paratively
short time, although there might be
some opposition manifested to it by
members Of both Houses, who want
the question entirely disposed Of at
once and no further patchwork legis-
.ation OF temporary character en-
acted just 10 be nUllifed few weeks
later.
In spite Of determined opposition to
the Cummins bill, Senators who are
backing it SAID TO-DAY that it will
pass that body by a substantial major
Jay, and that the vote will be taken
BY the end Of the present week. They
10 not believe that even if the Presi-
dent suggests that Congress give up
It's recess and agree ON railroad legis-
lation it will do so, unless he waits
until near the end Of the week nnd
then announces his intention to restore
the carriers to private control Janu-
sry l. In view Of Senator Cumminss
yesterday on the floor
tnat the carriers could get along for
thirty days without emergency legisla-
ton the Senate might not believe it
necessary 10 stay in session through
the holidays. 1t would have more
'han three weeks, when the holiday
recess IS over, to put the emergency
measure through.
As the time set for the roads return
officials say privately that they are
hearing more and more the demand
from the stockholders of some of them
hat government control be continued
for longer period. In view, however.
Of the position that has been taken
by the President and in the last six
months. By Director General Hines and
the President, an extension for any
considerable time is not expected
Ny. Hines is said to feel that sixty
days notice would be ample to give the
roads an opportunity to take all the
steps necessary in the transfer. The
President himself, if he decides not to
send message to Congress and return
the roads, needs only to sign an ex-
ecutlve proclamation announcing his
purpose and the date and when the
tlme comes the deed VIII be done