The sun., 1919-08-30
BRYAN HAS HYBRID
RAIL CONTROL PLAN
Would Have Us Buy Trunk
Lines and the Various States
the Smaller Roads.
Special Despatch to THE Sun.


WASHINGTON, Aug. 29.-William Jen-
nings Bryan proclaimed his pet theory.
Government ownership of railroads, be-
fore the House Interstate. Commerce
Committee to-day. He suggested a by
brid sort of dual Government ownership,
with the Federal Government buying
main trunk lines that will afford out
let's for the various States. and the States
buying the intrastate and smaller lines
generally.
Mr.. Byran dehounced all monopolies
with his, old time profundity of elo-
quence as "'nndefencible under a free
government" that continued private
ownership of the railroads would create
the greatest monopoly the world has ever
known.
Mr.. Bryan shouted to the committee
as 2if he were still ballyhooing for
sixteen to one" or the little brown
brothers," this monopoly would be
backed by the greatest bankers in the
world, the great subsidized newspapers,
and exercise such a control over the
Government that the question would not
be whether the Government owns the
railroads but whether the railroads own
the Government"
The Plumb plan of organized labor
for the operation of the railroads was
Endorsed by Mr.. Bryan 'in its funda-
mental principle, Government owner
snip" although he stated several objec-
lions to it in an effort to show that
MS plan was more practicable.
IF I had to choose between private
ownership and naturalization" he de-
clared, 81 would take the risks of nation
alization rather than the dangers of prt-
Vate monopoly. The Capitalization of so
much lower in Washington as the ma
tionalization plan provides is the strong
est argument against it, but / would
prefer placing this power in Washington
instead Of Wall Street. where 1t will be
under private ownership. Nationaliza-
ton of the railroads might throw them
into politics, but the Government could
not do any worse than the private mag
mates have done"
The trend of Mr.. Bryan's testimony
indicated that in large measure he sided
with the railroad men in their demands
ana several members OF the committee
saw the beginning of an effort to create
split in the Democratic party over the
Presidents firm stand against these de-
mands.
Mr.. Rryan's statements that Congress
is being corrupted were CHALLENGED by
Representative Winslow (Mass), who
NSiNNN iiAli " punt Out present example
of this corruption.
Il do not know OF any instances now"
the Commoner said, but the Pennsyl-
Vanla and the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
roads had their lobbyists here when the
new Washington station was built CIV
ing out passes to get votes for appro-
priations. For ten years they prevented
the charging of the Interstate Com
merce Commissions powers in the Sen
ate. remember a Nebraska State SEN
ator who opposed the railroads, but who
finally was taken out of the State by
them and SET up in the saloon business
in a near by State"
Mr.. Bryan said that under his plan TO
buy only tr' main trunk lines the Gov
eminent expenditure would not be more
than $5,000,000,0O0. In answer to ques.
lions of members of the committee as to
the details of his programme he said he
did not have specific recommendations
on several points, and had no definite bill
to present, but believed the details could
be worked out easily.