The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-01-04
KEEP POLITICS
OFF RAILROAD
MeAdoo Says Question Should be
Avoided, but cumrAins Says
1t Should be Politi-
cal One.


Avoided, but cumnAins Says
It Should be Politi-
cal One.
United Press Leased Wire Service.l
WASHINGTON Jan. 4.-The rail
roads must be kept out of politics.
Director General McAdoo declared to
the senate interstate commerce COM
mittee today.
Defending his proposal for five
year extension of government con-
troll, McAdoo asserted that to permit
the roads to return at the end OF the
twenty-one months period, would In
ject politics into the operation OF
them in the meantime.
Employees of railroads would be
come objects OF solicitation for politi-
cal purposes" McAdoo declared.
"The railroads of the United States
must be kept out Of politics. have
religiously tried to keep them out
and have appointed officials with
out regard to their politics.
eff for political reasons there Is
likely to be change of masters az
the end of two years, 1t Will work
/ for ineff1ciency of operation ana VIII
be taking risks, not only with the
| lives Of the people who travel, puI
with the commerce of the country.
| Senator Cummins, Iowa, repuph-
can, took exception to McAdoos
statement that the railroad question
must not be made political issue.
| 1.-THE people of the country deter
mine sooner or later all great Geo
nomic questions" Cummins declared.
"The railroad question must pc
settled politically and 1t Is Dound 10
be one Of the great political issues.
! McAdoo said he had no Suggestions
as to legislation which congress
should enact in case 1t turned GOWN
| the five year extension.
"You are apparently tnorousny
/; convinced of the advantages OF UNI
fed control, Senator -Cummins said,
why don't you advise congress 10 20
| on and secure 1t now?"
| ~ don't think we have sufhcient
data at this time" McAdoo said.
Senator Poindexter, washington
asked McAdoo II he realized that the
nresident took a different view.
| an his last message to congress
the president said he wants immeol-
| ate action and you say you want 70
wait Ave years." Poindexter SAID.
| "May be we can get along faster
Inv waiting FIVE years." McAdoo an
swered laughingly.
| Senator Townsend, Michigan, asAe1
McAdoo il he was not merely postpol-
inc the railroad question by MS i've
year suggestion.
{ McAdoo denied this and explained
that under five year extension -
government operation there woulo DC
conuosure on the part Of railroad EN-
ployes and officials as to just Wnat
lay ahead. ont
operation as a certainty, McAdoo
said. then you can operate ror three
wears without fear Of change In man.
agement, knowing that congress sun
has two years within which to leg1s-
late. 1t will satisfy the men that there
is a definite period Of tenure ana the!
can go forward"
/ "Then you would not turn the roaos
back before the five years are up!
Townsend asked. -,
"Not unless congress legislates Oil
ferently MEANWHILE" McAdoo SAID.
",rhe purpose Of the test Is to have
five year period in which to demon
strate.
I'VE could then look forward 10
period of composure under un1lleu
control which would be highly Dene.
fetal. Evidently it is in the MINDS Oh
every one, even with war condltlons
to Judge us by the test OF whether We
earned deficit this year. IL earnings
are to be standard, let us get test
under peace conditions to determine
the benefits OF unified control and to
show what the remedies are.
4 49, IL 0f
the end, the republican senators
became sharper than ever in their
hurting of questions at him. Just be-
fore he left the stand, he launched IN
to final plea for his five year plan.
.'The American people are entitled
to this test. We have spent lot OF
money to win the war and lot or this
was put on the railroads, because OF
the inefficiencies of private manage
ment," he said. st seems pity 10
throw away all we have gained and
hit on q make-shift. We spent over
billion dollars on the merchant fleet
to give American producers and labor
fair rewards for their toll and enter
prise by getting into the markets OF
the world in friendly rivalry with
other nations.
j "If we deliberately surrender our
advantage to make the railroads f'tnc-
ton with the ships at once. we have
taken risks we should not take and
would lose the opportunity for world
leadership in commerce and trade"
1.-The permit system could be main
tanned in peace time under proper
legislation. couldn't it," Senator KEEL
logg asked.
az think So" McAdoo answ cred.
Senator Underwood, Alabama, ask
ed il the permit system is necessary
in peace time.
| McAdoo answered that the, permit
system should be held as reserve
emergency power to be used when
conditions demanded.