Evening star., 1919-01-08
CONGRESS SHOULD
SAY WHEN ROADS
SHALL co BACK"
Commissioner Tells Senate
Committee That Presidents
Power Should Be Withdrawn.
RESOLUTION PROPOSED
TO COVER SITUATION

would Give Congress Time to Con-
slider Necessary Remedial
Legislation.
Congress and not the President
should determine when the railroads
are to be turned back to private man
agement, said Interstate Commerce
Commissioner Edgar Z. Clark today,
continuing his testimony before the
Senate interstate commerce committee,
at the hearing on railroad legislation.
Yesterday he submitted a statement
from the commission recommending
private operation of the carriers with
strictly government supervision.
eff 1 had my way" said Mr. Clark. 81
would have Congress fix the date on
which the railroads should be turned
back. This should be sufficiently far In
advance to permit the roads to prepare
for changed conditions and then all this
uncertainty and disruption of morale
which is talked about SO much would be
prevented.
Would Withdraw Power.
ITO state it bluntly. / think Congress
ought to withdraw from the President
the power to turn back the roads on an
hours notice and Congress itself ought
to determine when this shall be-
Senator Cummins, after Commits
sioner Clark had completed his teSti-
mony, stated that a resolution would
be introduced shortly which would
have the effect of preventing the
President from relinquishing railroads
from federal control without giving
Congress an opportunity TO consider
remedial legislation.
The commissioner explained that he
believed most of the legislative and
operating reforms proposed by advo-
Gates of unified operation could be
effected, even if the railroads were re-
linquished before Congress had a
chance to act.
Fears Disturbing of Finances.
Such action, however would disturb
financial arrangements, he said, and
might hamper the roads in starting
right on their new basis. Mr.. Clark
also emphasized his opinion that an
other year of unified operation under
government control would be suffi-
necessary information from which to
formulate new legislation.
cannot see," he said. that con-
t1nued operation would shed any more
light on conditions. We all have our
opinion of what the situation would
be at the end of five-year period"
As to Roads "Gone Wrong"
Senator Mclean Of Connecticut oues-
toned Mr.. Clark concerning the ef-
feet Of government operation of good
roads that have gone wrong, like the
New Haven" Many stockholders of
the New Haven. said Senator Mclean,
ownership, believing their stock
would be redeemed thereby.
Mr.. Clark said if the government
should acquire the property it would
pay something like the real value" ;"
Then you think that if the govern
ment were to buy this road" ques-
toned Senator Mclean, there would
holders?"
That is my impression" replied
Commissioner Clark.
Queries by Senator Cummins.
Senator Cummins Of Iowa asked:
Which, in your opinion. is more ef-
flcient. government or private opera
tion?'
Private operation" replied Mr..
for saving. less probability of ex-
penses for meeting the insistence of
certain localities; and private control
Of any large industry is more likely
to insure the adoption and use of i'm
proved methods"
Senator Cummins asked further:
What part of this opinion is based
on the fear of political influence?"
The pressure from this source" "
responded Mr.. Clark. would un-
doubtedly bring about many expendi-
lures which business men would not
consider advisable"
'Is any part Of this opinion based
on the idea that the pay of employees
should be reduoed?-
Not at ALL" replied the commissioner.
Commission Nearly a Unit.
In connection with his recommends
ton for immediate legislation to an
null the Presidents power to turn
back the railroads Immediately, Com
missioner Clark said all of the COM
missions members except Mr.. Wool
ley concur in that opinion.
THE commission" he said. DE
lieves it unwise to return the prop
critics precipitately, without time for
legislative action
The government, Mr.. Clark said, is
obligated to pay annually to rail-
roads under government control the
sum of $929.966,992. This is some
what more than the estimate of the
railroad administration, which recent
ly advised the committee that the
annual government obligation is less
than 5000, 100000.
Executive Veto Possible.
Senator Mclean pointed out that
legislation to revoke the Presidents
power Immediately to turn back the
properties would be difficult to get
through Congress, emphasizing the
possibility of an executive veto. Also
Senator Mclean said, the administra-
tion apparently has engaged in
propaganda" in behalf of Mr.. Nc
Adoo's five-year extension program
Short-line railroad interests were
brought up by Senator Underwood OF
Alabama, who asked Commissioner
Clark how the short lines could be
protected If Congress should enac,
legislation authorizing mergers OF
trunk lines. Mr.. Clark replied tha,
the Interstate Commerce Commission
could be given wide authority to dis
approve trunk line mergers unless
short-line interests are protected.
CONTRACTS WITH "PENNSY,n y
n..I