The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-02-03
ABOLISH SUBMARINE
AS WEAPON OF WAR
PURPOSE OF ALLIES
FAVORS GROUPING
OF u. S. RAILROADS
Director General Hines Does Not Believe
in Government Ownership and Does
Not Think 5-Year Extension
of Control Means Vir-
tuaI Ownership.

Washington D. c., Feb. 3.--Direetor
General Hines, testifying to-day before
the Senate interstate commerce commit
tee for the first time since his appoint
ment as railroad head, declared he did
not believe in government ownership,
but IN organization of few big railway
companies, subject to close government
supervision.
II do not believe there is anything
substantial in the argument that a five
year extension of government operation
would necessarily mean government
ownership" Mr. Hines said. 81 do not
personally believe in government owner
ship. believe there can be form OF
radically reconstructed private owner
ship with such close government super
vision, including. government representa-
tion on the board of directors, as will
give the public and labor all the benefits
of government ownership and at the
same time will preserve the benefits Of
private and self interested initiative and
win avoid the political difficulties which
perhaps are inseparable from govern
ment ownership.
81 believe that all the objects which
| think must be achieved in order to
obtain a permanent solution can be ac-
complished through the creation Of a
comparatively few railroad companies
which will have capitalization equal only
to the real value of the property, and
which will have a moderate guaranteed
return with the right to participate mod
erately in any additional profits"
To permit development of a compre.
hensive and permanent solution, Mr.,
Hines renewed Mr.. McAdoo's recommen-
dation for a five-year extension Of gov
erHment control, and explained that if
this were not done, he believed it would
be best for all interests concerned to re-
linquish government control without
waiting for expiration of the twenty
one month period, provided by existing
law.
Discussing the reasons for taking more
time for considering legislation, he said
"A very strong feeling prevails that
this question is being pushed now by the
railroad executives because they feel
that the going is particularly good and
| that they had better make private man
agement hay while the anti-government
ownership continues to shine. ] do not
believe a solution in this spirit is going
to satisfy the public
So far as physical operations are con
cerned, said the director general, there is
now no emergency which calls on thg
government to continue control Of the
railroads He explained that the meth
DDS adopted by the railroad administra-
tion during the war now are open to re-
consideration in the light Of peace con
ditions,' adding that this would be Mr.
McAdoo's attitude.
Mr.. Hines presented the following ar
guments for a five year extension:
at will give advocates of government
ownership full opportunity to press their
views without being influenced by the
temporary reaction against government
control
ut will remove the necessity for undue
haste in solving such a big problem as
| the future of the railroads; it will stabil-
ize employment and wage conditions
| permit prosecution Of big program Of
improvements and extensions, help ia
take up the slack in employment and
material during the critical period of re-
adjustment.
ut win protect security holders pend.
! ing an ultimate solution.
at will minimize the danger Of max
ing the railroad question a purely par
tisan issue, to he considered in illogical
manner, in the presidential elections"