New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-05
Cummins Against Immedi-
ate Return of Roads if S.
Year Scheme Is Beaten
Official Again Questioned
La Toilette, Hitherto Silent,
Indotses Directors Pro-
posed Test Programme

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.-A resolution
will be introduced in Congress pro
hibiting the Administration from car
rying out its threat to turn back the
railroads Immediately to their private
owners unless the -the-war period
Of government control is extended to
five years. An announcement to this
effect by Senator Cummins, of Iowa,
followed further grilling to-day of
Director General McAdoo by the SEN
ate Committee on Interstate Commerce,
of which Senator Cummins is mem
ber.
The hearing was enlivened by spir-
tied interchAnges between Mr.. McAdoo
and several of the Republican SEN
ators. in which the relationship be-
tween the railroad problem and the
Presidential campaign of 1920 was
brought TO the front Mr.. McAdoo
insisted that one purpose in seeking
the hve-year period was TO keep the
question out of the 1920 political cam
paign.
ut is bound to be an issue," was the
prompt reJoinder of Senator Cummins.
Resolution May Pass
II the attitude of the committee is
IN accurate reflection of the feeling
in Congress. such a resolution as that
suggested by Senator Cummns may
pass, it is declared The committee,
while strongly opposed to the five
year period, is equally opposed to the
suggestion that the railroads be turned
back before Congress has time to en-
act legislation fixing the future rela-
tionship between the government and
the roads.
The proposed act fixes the period of
7tter-thewar control at twenty-one
onths, but provides that the Presi-
dent may, al his discretion, turn back
the properties before the expiration of
that period.
The resolution, Senator Cummins in
dicated, would withdraw the proviso,
nus fixing the period att twenty-one
months unless Congress shal have
acted in the meantime
In sharp colloquy between the Di-
rector General and Senator Watson
Mr. McAdoo declared that he had no
suggestion whatever to offer concern
ing the proper method of dealing with
the problem, other than his insistence
on five-year test period.
The National Association Of Railway
Executives, comprising the directing
heads Of all the important railroads
Of the country, will meet in Philasel-
phia tomorrow, when they will formu-
ate final programme of recommends
tions TO make to the committee con-
eerning legislation necessary for the
effective operation of the roads in the
future.
Commission To Be Heard
Though opposed to the proposed five
year period Of Federal control, they
nevertheless oppose the suggestion
tnat the roads DC thrown back at once
on their owners without the enactment
Of necessary legislation.
In executive session at the conclu-
Slon OF the examination of Mr.. McAdoo,
me committee decided to start, Mon
day' the questioning of members Of the
hterstate Commerce Commission, fol-
owing which representatives Of the
railroads will be heard. Deputations
iepresenting various shippers organi-
@ations, as we'll as the owners of rail
road securities and employees Of the
:oads, have been in attendance at the
hearings, and probably will get an op-
portunity 70 be heard.
"s ne stepped from the witness chair
.s '"e ciose OF his testimony Mr.. Nc
S..ehy addressed the committee
s"s ss Ina. inasmuch as he is retiring
aef'niteiy from public Office by tho erat
OF next week he wished to eY,rs.a
probation for the "many caurtes;asn
extended him by the committee 60 60"
nan Smith replied IN behalf Of s .ha
committee. s"e
At the outset OF the session scpa,or
hcliogg, OF Minnesota, resumed HIS sx-
animation Of the witness, begun yea
terday. When the Minnesota Senator
continued drawing comparisons be-
tween the earnings Of the railroads
ander Federal control with their earn
'nss under private management Mr..