The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-01-04

R. R. FUTURE
GREAT PROBLEM
Old Owners Are Devising Plans
to Regain Control Of
Transportation.
THEY ARE ANXIOUS TO
FIX TIME FOR RETURN
Baltimore Banker and Railroad
Man Makes Statement in Be-
half of Railroad Owners.

New York, Dec. SIS. Davies
WarfieId, president of the National
Association # Owners of Railroad
Securities. was in New York today in
confcrel with members of the as
soc:ation in connection with the
plans of the association in respect to
the return of the railroads to their
owners.
It has been understood that Chair
man Cuyler # the Association Of Rail-
road Executives had furnished the
railway executives a plan to be dis
cussed with the executive committee
of the national association.
Before leaving for Baltimore, Mr..
Warfeld made the following state
ment:
.The association will nave sugges-
tions to offe~ in. relation to the plans
for the return of the railroads to
their owners AS announced in the
press, the association, prior to pre-
centing the suggestions it will formu-
late to the congress, will consult with
committees, organizations and other
concerned including the shippers, that
unity of purpose may be secured Il
possible.
eve have thought that the ship
pers should be first consulted in re-
spect to the fundamentals Of plans we
have in mind With this in view con-
ferences have been held in Washing
ton with representatives of shipping
organizations from various sections
OF the country and with others con-
cerned. After further conferences,
arranged for the immediate future,
have been held we will be in position
/ to consider the plan, among others,
submitted to US by the chairman of
! the Association of Railway Execu-
tives. We may say, however, that the
| fundamentals Of our plan now under
consideration differ materially from
those of the plan Of the executives
association It's chairman has advis-
ed us that he had postponed the meet
ting Of the association to have been
held on Monday, that our commit
tee might consider their plan before
submission to their full membership.
We notified their chairman that this
would be done as early as practicable.
Our experts have for some time past
been preparing data necessary for the
completion of our plan, which is not
finished. Further our advisory coun.
sci, also general counsel, are prepar-
ing opinions requested in various le-
gal questions involved both in our
plan and in that proposed by the
of
vast proportions and upon its prop
er solution depends not only the fate
Of the railroads, but the. succe.. Of
t the business interests of the country
as well.
The work of the moment is to meet
the question of five year extension
of federal control an1 operation. The
official positions formerly held by ex-
ecutives of the railroads, who operat-
ed their respective properties, have
been taken by federal managers, un-
der regional directors, and in most
cases these executives are presidents
of the corporations they formerly op-
Grated. They are familiar with the
effect and consequences of federal
control and operation, not only upon
their respective railroads, but also up
on the facilities and service furnished
to shippers and the travelling public.
They can supply the data and infor-
nation in respect to the effect con-
t. uing of such control and operation
ill have upon the railroads and the
shipping interests of the country.
These presidents compose very
largely the Association of Railway EX-
ecutives and we have therefore writ
ten their chairman that the furnish
ing of this data and information be-
fore the senate committee on inter
state commerce at the hearings now
to begin would seem to be the inme
date necessity. The conditions found
to exist will likely constitute basis
for the request by the senate COM
mittee that the congress pass a joint
resolution calling upon the railroad
administration to give sufficient time
for congress to enact legislation for the
proper and the safe return Of the
railroads under proper governmental
regulatory measures which doubtless
would be readily given. There can
be little doubt that hose who have
been operating these properties for the
purpose of war, in which they have
received every cooperation, will now
cooperate in putting them in condition
for their proper return when the use
for which the. were taken has been
accomplished"