Evening journal., 1919-01-08
government WOULD
TAKE over ROADS
Bill Introduced to Extend
Control Until 1924 and
Askinp S5O0.0000000
OPPONENTS TO
FIGHT MEASURE

WASHINGTON, Jan. s. - Conclusive
evidence that the Administration in
tends TO put up a hard battle for reten
tion OF government control and opera
tion OF the railroads during the shor
life OF the present Congress was seer
yesterday in the Introduction in the
House by Chairman Sims TENN OF tie
Interstate Commerce Committee Of tNo
amendments to the railway control act
The frst provides for extension OF
government ope alton Of the railroads
until January 4, 1924, the second for an
additional revolving fun Of S5Oo,OOO'-
600.
The request for another half billion
dollars to cover the losses suffered
through government operation OF The
railroads was not altogether unoN-
peeted AS pointed out recently less
ihan one-tenth OF the half billion re-
volving fund with which the govern
ment started It's operations Of the rail-
road systems Is still available. In lacI
The Railroad Administration, as SHOWN
by It's financial statement, Is close 70
the rock, and II IL is TO continue Ior any
length OF time must have huge apprO-
priations.
The p-ovision for extending control
OF the railroads until 1924 is simply me
McAdoo five year plan TO which strong
opposition mas developed not only IN
Congress, but in the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
IL Is the firm belief OF a great many
members Of Congress and particularly
OF the Senate and House Interstate
Commerce committees that IN view Of
the sorry financial showing Of the Rail-
road Administ- alton during the hrst
year OF its life even the additional re-
volving fund sought would not be sur
flcient 10 carry th ough the gigantic
plan Of the Administration and success-
fully operate the railroads for five years.
It Is also the majority opinion and IS
even admitted by some hackers Of The /
AfcAd0O plan that extension OF govern {
ment control and operation until 1924 /
would get the railroads into such a tam |
gle that the only way TO solve the dif- /
nculties by that tine would be to re- /
Representative Sims avOwedly Is in IA /
vor OF government ownership or the /
railroads and has not hesitated to say |
so frankly and openly.
Opponents OF the five year extension
plan reiterated tonight that they would /
nght 20 a finish any effort to rush the /
McAdOO proposal through during the /
few short weeks remaining Of the pres
ent session OF Congress. They reiterated |
also their determination to prevent the |
possible wrecklng Of some railroad sys-
tenn through the Administration taking
advantage OF the privilege Il has under
existing law OF turning the railroads
back 20 private ownership at any time
As has already been pointed out this
could be accomplished through passage
Of a joint resolution preventing such
action by the President or any one Of
whom he delegates authority.
Congress VIII insist, leaders declared
tonight. on the railroad question being
given the most careful study before |
determining finally on any plan for /
their future. To their worries regard /
ing the practical certainty Of govern
ment control rebuilding from adoption
Of the AicAd0o plan have been added
grave doubts OF government ownership /
being possible for any great leny.h Of
time without the expenditure NJ tre-
mendous sums and adding 10 the al
ready heavy burdens OF taxation
No official estimate has been made 0f
The entire mount which would be
needed under the fun period Of the
McAdoo plan should Il be adopted. but
unofficial estimates have placed II at be-
tween S2oOO,OO,O00 and S3O00OO0c00.
When the time came 10 turn the rail-
roads back il IS believed by opponents
of the McAdoO five year plan thar such
an enormous amount Of money would
be charged against the railroads Is
due 10 the government that they could
not begin TO pay it all.
This Is one Of the factors causing the
belief that government owner ship
would be made inevitable by adoption
Of the five year extension However.
should government ownership be forced
through by the McAdoo plan o, other
wise II has been estimated that the gov
ernment would have to pSy for the rail
road properties a sum estimated at be-
tween Si6,000OOO,OOO and $1,000 0O0.GnO.
How II Is proposed TO pr wide this
amount on top Of paying for the cnor-
nous expenditure incident to the war
no proponent OF the McAdoo progsam
has yet explained.
Experience proves that the Want Ads