The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-18
PRESIDENTS MIND !. IS STILL OPEN ON
 RETURN 0F ROADS
First Authoritative Expres- sion From Administration Hadquarters Given By
 Tumulty
By Associated prss


 Washington, December IT,
 President Wilson's mind is still
 open on the question of returning
 the railroads to private control.
 Secretary Tumuity today tcld
 delegation representing union la
 bor and some farmers' orgnnixn-
 tions which called at the White
 house to present letter asking
 the executive to delay return of
 the roads for two years.
 This was the first authoritative ex- pression on the subject which had come from administration quarters since the President informed Con- gress last May that he planned to rellnquish federal control by January 1. The President, MT. Tumulty said. would be glad to get the views of the labor and farmer representatives who insisted that fair test, Of sgovernment operation in peace time should be given.
 NEAR FINAL VOTE
 While the delegation was at the w nlle f1OuSt, lut OtHdkc was SPcNA- ing up consideration of the Cummins railroad bill and apparently was near ing a final vote after more than a week of debate Under the measure the roads would be returned to their owners within 30 days after the bill became law, but there was no pros- pect that final enactment of any rail- road legislation would be completed ,,x, nII ,ff fnr "A hrtg days owing to differences between the Senate and House.
 Before going to the White House the union labor and farmers delega- tion. which included President Com pers of the American Federation of Labor and representatives of the rail- road brotherhoods, called on Senator Cummins. chairman of the Senate in- terstate commerce committee, and asked that his bin be withdrawn. lie indicated that he would lay the re- quest before the full committee.
 The letter from the labor and farm CTS delegation to the President said proponents of the Cummins bill claimed that the President planned to return the roads by January 1 and that some legislation providing for such return must be enacted imme- diately.
 ASSERTION AN INJUSTICE
 We believe that this assertion is a great injustice to you" continued the letter 'As you doub tless know, an overwhelming majority of the farm CTS and the members of the American Federation of Labor and the railroad brotherhoods, as well as the general public, favor an extension of the pe- riod of government operation of the railroads for at least two years, in order that fair test may have been made of government operation and a plan may be worked out for the ulti- mate disposal of the railroads which would be fair to all interests in volved
 Director General Hines and mem bers of the interstate commerce com mission have shown clearly that the return of the railroads will involve an increase in freight rates of close to a billion dollars.
 This increase in rates according to the same authorities, will be reflected in an increased cost of living of at least $4.o00, 100000 . year, possibly s5.oOo. .oOc. 900. The American people cannot and should not stand such ar increase. We respectfully request. Mr President. on behalf of the farmers the American Federation of Labor and the railway brotherhoods as we'll IS the general public, that you stop ths iumors that you plan to return the railroads to private control, and that in view of the changed conditions and the prevalent industrial unrest you re- establish public confidence by advocat. ing that the period of government tp-
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