The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-02-04
HINES FOR 5-YEAR
RAIL CONTROL, BUT
NOT TO BUY ROADS
RAILWAY HEAD SAYS PER
SONALLY HE OPPOSES
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
WANTS A FEW BIG LINES
In Testifying Before Senate Com
mittee He Says Time Extension
viii Stabilize Wage Conditions,
Protect Security Holders and
Take Problem Out of Politics.

Protect Security Holders and
Take Problem Out of Politics.
Washington, Feb 3.-Director
General Hines, testitying today be-
fore the senate interstate commerce
committee for the first time since
his appointment as railroad head. de
cIared he did not believe in govern
men ownership, but in organization
OF a few big railway companies sub.
leci to close government supcryi-
sion.
u do not beleev there is ANYTIME
substantial in the argument that a
tlve-ycar extension of government
operation would necessarily mean
government ownership" Mr.. Hines
SAID. u do not personally believe in
government ownership. / believe
there can be a form OF radically re-
constructed private ownership with
such close government supervision.
including government representa-
ton on the boards of directors. as
viii give the public and labor all the
benefits OF government ownership
and at the same time will preserve
the benefits Of private and self-in-
tereSted initiative and will avoid the
political difficulties which pcrhaps
are inseparable from goycrnmen,
ownership.
u believe that all the object,
which ! think must be achieved in
order to obtain a permanent sou-
tlon can be accomplished through
the creation OF a comparatively few
railroad companies which will have
capitalization equal only to the real
value OF the property and which
viii have moderate guaranteed
return with the right to participate
| its"
To permit development Of a com
ptehensiye and permanent solution.
Mr. Hines renewed Mr.. McAdoos
recommendation OF fiye-year ex-
tension OF government control and
explained that il this were not done
he believed it would be best for all
interests concerned to relinquish
government control without wait
ing tor expiration Of the 2l months
period provided by existing law.
"It seems to be unthinkable," he
added, that any suggestion of early
relinquishment should be put for
ward as leverage for forcing an
extension. | think the entire sub
lect ought to be determined by the
logic of facts"
Arguments for Extension.
So far as physical operations are
concerned, said the director general
there is now no emergency which
calls on the government to continue
control OF the railroads. Mr.. Hines
presented the following argument,
for a iivc-year extension:
1t will give advocates of gov
ernmcnt ownership full oppor-
tunity TO press their views with
out being influenced by the
temporary reaction against gov
crnmcnt control
1t will stabilize employment
and wage conditions, permit
prosecution OF big program OF
Improvements and extensions.
help to take up the slack in en-
pIoyment and materials during
the critical period OF readjust.
ment
1t will protect security hold
erS pending an ultimate solu-
ton.
1t will minimize the danger OF
making the railroad question a
purely partisan issue to be con-
sidered in an illogical manner,
in the presidential elections.
The uncertainty of the future
on the part of the employees
would increase as the p months
period would draw to a close.
TWenty-one months is not
enough time to complete many
extensions and improvements,
and it would be hard for the
government to undertake such
program which would not
show results during the control
period
Early REIMBURSEMENT would
not cause any more chaotic con-
ditions now than later, even
under legislation providing a
reform scheme.
Old rates would not 60 into
effect automatically with cessa-
tion OF government control and
railroad companies would not
he thrown into bankruptcy as
has been feared.
Costs Due to War.
At present, said Mr.. Hines, tn
unfair inference is persistently
drawn that the heavy operating
costs necessarily are due TO in.