Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-12-18
PRESIDENT MAY |
NOT PUT ROADS .
BACK NEW YEAR
Secretary TumuIty Says Chief
Executives Mind Is Still
- >oen On Subject of Private
y q otroI.

~
w $.H.ton, Dec H. President
Wilson &$ ind is still open on the
queStio, HH 'eturning the railroads TO
private / o 'shiD, Secretary Tumulty
today toh, delegation representing
union labor and some farmers organ
i2ations which called at the White
House to present q letter asking the
executive to delay return of the roads
for two years.
This was the first authoritative ex-
preston on the subject which had
come from administration quarters
since the president informed congress
last May that he planned to relinqpish
federal control bv January l. The
president, Mr. Tumulty said, would
be glad to get the views of the labor
and farmer representatives. who in
sisted that a fair test of government
operation in peace time should be
given.
While the delegation was at the
White House the senate was speeding
up consideration of the Cummins rail-
a final vote. Under the measure the
roads would be returned to their own
ers within thirty days after the bill
became a law.
Asks Bills Withdrawal.
Before going to the White House
ton, which included Samuel Gompers
OF the American Federation OF Labor
and representatives of the railroad
brotherhoods, called on Senator Cum
Minis, chairman of the senate Inter-
state commerce committee, and asked
that his bill be withdrawn He indi-
Gated that he would lay the request
before the full committee.
The letter from the labor and farm
ers' delegations to the president said
proponents of the Cummins bill claim
ed that the presidents planned to re-
tsYH N.at le IKF To IA 4 mn IA q
some legislation providing for such re-
turn must be enacted Immediately.
I'VE believe that this assertion is O.
great injustice to YOU continued the
letter LAS YOU doubtless know, an
overwhelming majority OF the farmers,
tion of Labor and the railroad broth
erhoods as well as the general public,
favor an extension of the period OF
government operation Of tine railroads
for at least two years, In order that u
fair test may have been made of gov
worked out for the ultimate disposal
of the roads which would be fair to
all interests involved.
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 Increase cost of lfv-
ihg OF at least S4,00a, ,00a. 600 year,
possibly $5,000,000 600. The American
people cannot and should not stand
such an increase,
We respectfully request. Mr.. Pres
ident, on behalf of the farmers, the
American Federation OF Labor and tho
railroad brotherhoods as well as the
general public, that you stop the ru-
mors that you plan to return the rail-
roads to private control, and in view
of the changed conditions and the pre-
valent industrial unrest you re-estab-
lish public confidence by advocating
that the period of government opera
ton be continued for at least two
year,"
During the day j. r. Howard. rep
resenting the American Farm Bureau
federation, made public letter which
he had sent to Senator Cummins
resolutions adopteda by
the federation at Chicago last month
demanding "the early return of the
railroads TO private control under such
conditions and regulations as will rem
der adequate service at lust and equit-
able rates"
Mr., Howard said the resolution had
been adopted unanimously.
This unanimous approval" he
wrote, was from body of more than
400 active and actual farmers hold
ing delegate power from two million
other farmers and "a states of the
union"