The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-11
FIVE Rail PLANS
Senate Committee Gets View of
the Problem Ahead.
Government Control Not Likely
To Be Solved Soon.

washington, Jan. 11.--With five dis
tinct plans for the disposition of the
railroads already formally presented
and others to be submitted in the near
future, the senate committee on inter-
state commerce is beginning to get a
birds eye view of a problem which is
not likely to be solved before March
4, as desired by the Administrations.
The five plans now before the COM
mittee are:
general of the railroads, calling for i've
year experimental period of government
operation.
mittee providing for restoration of private
operation under stricter federal regulation
s. That of the railroad executives to re-
store private management of the roads I'M
der the regulation of a cabinet officer, to
be known as secretary of transportation,
f. That of the railway commissions call
ing for the preservation of state powers in
railroad regulation. but coincfding in many
respects with that OF the interstate coLh-
merce commission.
S. That of the shipper for immediate
legislation to shear the presidents powers
in railroad regulation. and and restore the
authority of the interstate commerce COM
mittec.
Another Is Coming.
A sixth proposition is to be made
by the national association of railroad
securities and the national industrial
traffic league, representing shippers,
which organizations have just con-
cIuded a conference on the subject in
Chicago 1t was stated Friday night
that both organizations are opposed
to federal Incorporation of railroads
and the creation of secretary OIL
transportation.
S D. Warfield, representing the Sc
curity owners, and G. NJ. Freer, rep
resenting the shippers league, who ar
rived from the Chicago conference
Friday night, predicted that the coali-
ton of owners and shippers would
prove a potent influence in the settle
ment of the railroad question.
Clifford Thorne of Chicago, repre-
senting various shippers organizations,
petitioned the committee to call in its
power to amend the present railroad
law at the earliest possible date on
three propositions. as follows:
"Strike out the clause which states
that the presidents order shall super
sede state and federal laws and the
common law.
Insert a sentence requiring the
railroad administration to pay fir al
judgments rendered against common
carriers.
Restore the suspension powers of
the interstate commerce commission"
Mr.. Thorne told the committee that
INC S0htAiliei4I aiilOiiS Ii4o oAiAPP~h9 u
the country on these three PROPOSE
tions was pra etically unanimous.
McAdOo Is Alone.
To date no arguments in favor of
! the McAdoo program have been ad-
vanced before the committee, except
| by MIR. McAdoo himself and Robert
| Woolley, interstate commerce COM
missioner and formerly publicity di-
rector of the Democratic national
committee.
| Senator Lewis. taking part in the
| investigation for the first time, un-
| dertook to show that the interstate
| commerce commission was opposed to
| Mr.. McAdoo program because II
feared the loss of its lob. On this
point he questioned Edgar E Clark
| interstate commerce commissioner
representing the majority of the com
! mission