Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1919-02-21
PROPOSES Is BIG
RAILROAD SYSTEMS
Daniel Wizards Plan for
Consolidation of
All Roads
SAY COMPETITION
WOULD CONTINUE

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2i-Daniel VIII
lard. president Of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad continuing testimony
before the Senate Interstate Com
merce Committee. proposed ultimate
consolidation OF all the country's
railroads into about % great systems
along present lines as an alternative 10
the plan for establishing regional sys-
TENS on q geographical basis.
Mr.. willard submitted a map TO show
how competition would be preserved
under his plan, with the big roads alb
sorbing the weaker ones. Under the
proposed regional system, he said, COM
petition would be eliminated in each
region and service would suffer
Funds for purchasing the small roads
should be provided. The committee was
told, from excess earnings Of the pros
porous ones. which otherwise would go
TO the government.
In this way, Mr.. Willard said. the
big roads would be induced to promote
the plan. and he predicted that within
five years there would remain not more
than 40 systems. At present, he pointed
out, there are i62 railroads earning
more than Si,OO0,0O0 a year.
In reply TO questions OF Senator
Pomerene, Of Ohio, Mr. Willard said:
Il would not bring about this con-
solidstion violently. but simply would
permit the roads TO carry it out by re-
moving present restrictions.
II Congress accepts extension Of
Federal control until 1924" said Mr..
Willard, 1T Is accepting government
ownership under q different name" EX-
planning his idea Of the functions Of a
secretary Of transportation Mr. Willard
favored making the ONCE largely ad-
visory, leaving administration and man
agement Of the railroads to legislative
agencies.
The only two questions which should
he settled before the roads are relln-
quished, Mr.. Willard said, are those OF
sufficient rates and the settlement Of
loans received from the government
Senator Cummins said he proposed 90
offer an amendment TO the pending bin
appropriating S75OO00O00 for the rail-
road administration to prevent relln-
punishment Of the roads until after Con
gress has enacted new legislation,
which he said would not be before next
AANAHAlAAAaAa an ~ NNAN4 eNNNrllleLN
presented TO the committee, Howard
Elliott, president Of the Northern Pa
cific, asserted that reforms proposed by
former Director-General McAdoo could
be obtained under private management
az suggested by representatives OF
railroad executives.
Regulated competition should be con
finued he said. between the great sys-
TENS which should absorb the small
ones.
Mr. Elliott referring to hts 80 years
experience as a railroad man and eX-
planning that he had endeavored in con-
Bidering the subject TO give due weight
70 the rights OF all interests, sum
married his views as follows:
First Government ownership. man
agement and operation Of the American
railroads Is not for the best interest Of
the nation.
Second. Private ownership, with
wise, energetic and honest MANAGEMENT
and operation under suitable. thorough
and protective regulation, viii produce
the best results for the country.
Third. Regulation should be so ar
ranged and directed as 20 preserve and
encourage the initiative Of the Ameri-
can citizen, to be prompt and respon-
sive 10 changing conditions, but at the
same time, provide checks to prevent