New-York tribune., 1919-02-04

SoiiuAliohS ana OF tne present 'lnaQc-
guate and temporary" form arguments
Tor supporting their varying theories.
Ihe uncertainty of the future on the
part of employees would increase as
the twenty-one months period would
draw to a close.
Twenty months is not enough
time to complete many extensions and
improvements, and it would be hard
Tor the government to undertake such
a programme, which would not show
results during the control period.
Early REIMBURSEMENT would not
cause any more chaotic condition now
than later, even under Legislation pro-
vlding reform scheme.
Old rates would not go into effect
automatically with cessation Of gov
ernment control, and railroad compa-
nles would not be thrown into bank
ruptcy, as has been feared
Mr.. Hines went into detail to ex-
plain that he believed the courts and
the Interstate Commerce Commission
would uphold the present level of
rates, and that the railroads were un-
duly alarmed over prospects of tinan-
clal disaster in case their properties
were returned soon to private manage
ment.
Deliberation Is Urged
Advising more deliberaton in dis
cussing the railroad question, Mr..
Hines said:
81 think it is fair prediction that
before any legislation can actually be
shaped there will be strong reasser-
tlon OF the permanent views of that
part of the public which insists on a
greater degree of social control of the
railroads, and that this reasscrtion of
the, views now temporarily in the
background is going to defeat the adop-
tlon of any permanent programme in
the next two years.
"If this shall be the case, the re-
suit will be that the end of the twcn-
ty-onc months period will approach
and that there will be no actual solu-
tion at all, and then there will be an
outcry tor an extension of time. In
all probability the time will then have
to be extended"
At present, said Mr.. Hines. the un-
fair Inference is persistently drawn
that the heavy operating costs are
necessarily due to increased rates of
wages, whereas they are largely due
to, war conditions, and the position of
labor in this matter should not be
preJudiced by forcing a conclusion be-
fore there is time to see the results
Of increased wages under peace condi-
tions. Since last year was under alb
normal war conditions, this year in
wolves reimbursement, and normal COLI
ditions will not be until next year, he
declared, and it will be the middle Of
1921 before fair view Of government
operation can be obtained.
Real Plans Are Lacking
No plans now before the committee
meet the fundamental necessities of
permanent solution, said the director
general: Those already proposed, ne
declared, would pcrpetuatc existing
railroad capitslizations, which he be-
suspicion on the part of the public
aud labor, and which must be corrected
before any permanent solution can be
had
The present plans, he asserted, in
clude all existing railroad companies.
both those which thrive on low rates
and those which fail on high rates.
thus putting the public to a disadvan-
tage through paying too much 10 some
and getting inadequate service.
A permanent solution, Mr.. Hines
SAID, should give the government and
perhaps labor participation in excess
proflts of some companies under stand
ard rates. Plans heretofore proposed
were based on the theory that rail
roads should receive reasonable re-
turn, no more and no less. But in
actual results, he believed, the return
would be inexact and widely fluctuat-
ing.
Failure of the pending plans to meet
these fundamentals, said Mr.. Hines.
will tend to prevent their receiving
general acceptance and will not solve
the question satisfactorily. lie added
that proposed. plans for pooling and
consultations will prove illusory he
cause they cannot successfully be made
compulsory
That grain shippers and others had
organized a propaganda to compel the
railroad administration to modify or
revoke its war orders regarding dam
age claims was charged by Mr.. Hines