Grand Forks herald., 1919-09-15

published herein I.
MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 49, 1919
RAILWAY PLANS
Congress has before several plans for the reorsan-
OF the railway service of the country perm
basis. follow temporary Of the roads
for Some Of these plans have been FORM
presented while others which
discussed yet to be presented.
Most conspicuous among tho numerous plans for gov
ownership is what is known the Plumb plan
considerable backing the railway
hoods and from organized generally. This plan
calls for the purchase Of the railroad properties the
bonds to the actual value of the
to be given in exchange for operation board made
Of the government operating
branches of the service and Of the Eeneraiy
creation Of operating districts division Of
profits equally between the and employees
Other plans contemplate the return Of the roads
private management under complete systems Of
government control than have yet attempted In
this country One Of these the wared plan
by the National Association Of Owners of Railroad
tues. This plan, IN brief, is follows
C) The country shall be divided three elassi
Acation territories.
t2) Congress shall enact that such trame saal
be established shall return not than SO the
combined property investment OF roads
the three territories.
ts) These rates might not go earnings to
the roads in territory, conversely might
bring in $50 others, which case, surplus
over SO would be equally divided between the
ing it. its employees, and "such benefit"
to the travelling and shipping public.
The plan proposed by the Association Railway Ex-
ecutives contains the following features:
t1) Approved by public authorities rates that
will allow selfsussanins and to command
necessary capital;
(2) Exclusive regulation Of rates by the interstate
Commerce Commission assisted by regional sub-com
nissions
ta) Greater uninoahon Of public regulation through
national control be provided by incorpora
tion of interstate lines
4) Authorization OF consultations existing lines
into competitive syseems joint use Of
terminals. when found to be IN the public
t5) The creation Of Federal Transportation Board
charged with general oversight from the point
view of public interest transportation. There would
be three commissioners appointed President
Board would be coordinate with the
Commission relisve 1t Of ali functions
except those of regulation valuation accounting
The so-called cumnatns bill. formulated the SEN
ate committee Interstate Commerce provides ae
follows:
t1} The roads win return to private ownership on
the last day of the month in which the enacted
into law
CD The Interstate Commerce Commission receives
greatly increased power and is the supreme body
Tor railroad anairs
tsy A Railway Transportation Board is estab-
hshed With certain supervisory powers under the Com
mission
"a Between the Commission and the Board the
government would supervise control virtually rail
road affairs, including only rates. wages opera
ton, and financing.
t5> A Committee Wages and Working Conditions
Eculd be established; composed equally representative
oS employees and employer
ts) Strikes and lockouts be prohibited under
penalty Of fine and imprisonment
G) The Interstate railroads would be combined In.
10 not less than twenty and than thirty-nve
regional systems with FEDERAL Incorporation.
ts) The government guaranty of railroad income
would would be continued NOT
longer than four months present only chauesd
BY the Interstate Commerce Commission
The revenue thereafter would be limited sun1cisnt
to produce fair dividends based property valuations
axed by the Interstate Commerce co1nrnission
While no great attention has paid to it. men
hon has nevertheless of the plan nroposed
several years ago by Hon. william Bryan. Mr. Bryan
sought to effect working binaton between govern
ment control Of railways which strongly and
sufficient sovereignty to be
% southern Democrats was that Of public
ownership OF all railroads but the ownership con-
roi to be divided between and nation in nnos n-
senious manner He proposed that the trunk" lines in
zach state should be owned and BY the
sovernnaent while all branch lines should bs the prop
srty Of the sa. the fu control OF them
Thus Tar Mr. BFyAn's plan remains ts "anonr those
present class
It Will b noted an thu pisns whether ser ,un,,1
prvats ownazship, oentspats srsassr rneasure d
control; the moro yssins Of auth
or in The federal gevsrnent the exclusion of the
states saad n most cases rscosniten that the rates
shArEed must be saaassat make the roads sslf.sus
Atnns With provision Tor tie 4istriSuti0n Of exces.
profits The cumntAs pian y az Anly 80 which ~.