The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-04
RAILROADS WILL
KEEP OLD RATES
IF HANDED BACK
McAdOO Tells Senate Commit
tee Charges Would Continue
If the Railroads Are Turned
Back to Old Ownership.
ITO eliminate COMPETITION
Railroad Owners Would Block
Either Plan of Government.
Against 5-Year Plan or Giving
the Roads Back Now.

the Roads Back Now.
Washington. Jan. A.-Existing rates
would continue if railroads were turn
ed back to the private control until
/ changes were made by orderly legal
procedure, even where states have
| specific rate laws. is the opinion of
! Director General McAdoo expressed
today at the resumption of the senate
interstate commerce committees hear
ings on the railroad problem. The
Interstate commerce commission has
power to prevent discrimination in
rates and this power could be invoked,
said Mr.. McAdoo. to prevent inequali-
ties between intra and interstate rates.
He called attention to the fact that
the courts have power to annul rates
which might be confiscatory in view
of the present high cost OF operating.
The director general also expressed
the opinion that railroads operating
privately could maintain joint ticket
! offices without violating antitrust
laws.
| Against the Combine.
Don't you know" Senator Kellogg
of Minnesota. inquired that when
| committee of railroad presidents tried
i to unity the roads before the govern
ment took hold, the attorney general
inquired by what authority they were
acting and intimated that they were
! violating the law"
DO you believe in the elimination
| of all competition between railroads
don't you think that the competf-
| ton of service. has been a principal
| factor in promoting good railway SER
vice?
Mr.. Mc4Adoe replied: 'T don't know
yet whether 1t would be best to elimi-
| nate all competitions. That is why
l want a five-year test period. -
| blessing but a longer trial will show
how much of it may be necessary
/ Get Into Politics.
McAdoo asserted that to permit the
roads to return at. the end of the 81
months period, would inject politics
into the operation Of them in the
/ Employees Of railroads would be-
come objects of solicitation for pofiti-
cal purposes" McAdoo declared. THE
railroads of the United States must
be kept out of politics. 1 have re-
| have appointed officials without re-
gard to their politics.
| 'If for political reasons there is
likely to be change Of masters at
the end of two years, it will work for
tinefficiency of operation and will be
taking risks, not only with the lives
Of the people who travel, but with the
commerce Of the country"
Cummins Takes Exception.
Senator Cummins, Iowa, Republican,
took exception to McAdoo's statement
that the railroad question must not
be made a political issue.
| 1.-The people of the country de-.
termine sooner or later all great eco
nomic questions Cummins declared.
The railroad question must be set
foQ txy md fo f< fx<<
u one of the great political issues"
McAdoo said he had no suggestions
as to legislation which congress should
enact in case it turned down the five
year extension.
you are apparently tfloroly con-
vinced Of the advantages of unified
control" Senator Cummins said. "Why
don't you advise congress to go on and
secure it now?"
Il don't think we have sufficient
data at this time," McAdoo said.
II President Has Views.
i Senator Poindexter, Washington.
asked McAdoo if he realized that the
president took different view.
. I'm his last message to eongress. the
president said he wants Immediate
action and you say you want to wait
five years." Poindexter said.
Maybe we can get along faster by
waiting five years" McAdoo answered,
laughingIy.
Senator Townsend, Michigan, asked
McAdoo IL he was not merely post
} poning the railroad question by his
five-year suggestion.
| McAdoo denied this and explained
that under a five-year extension of
government operation there would be
composure on the part of railroad en-
ployes and officials as to just what lay
ahead.
i Three Years of Operation.
IF we have five years of govern
ment operation as certainty" Nc
Adoo said, then you can operate for
three years without fear of a change
in management. knowing that congress
still has two years within which to
legislate. 1t will satisfy the men that
there is definite period of tenure
n and they can go forward"
Then you would not turn the roads
back before the five years is up7"
Townsend asked.
Not unless congress 1egisiates DIFF
iferently meanwhile" McAdoo said
The purpose of the test is to have
five year period in which to demon
strate.
I'VE could then look forward to 8
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