The Washington herald., 1919-01-04
Solons Take Position That
Wartime Arrangements
Are Impossible During
Peace, and That Con-
gress Can Settle Ques-
ton in FL Months.

Opposition to- Director General OF
Railroads McAdOo's proposition for
a five-year extension Of the period
OF government operation Of the
roads developed early during his
appearance yesterday before the
Senate Committee on Interstate
Commerce. and continued through
out the session.
The opposition took two different
lines of development Senators IN
derwOod and Pomcrene, Of the Dem
ocratiC majority. repeatedly sought
to obtain from him an admission
that extension Of the present ar
ranEement with the railroads was
impossible during peace
Senator Cummins led the opposi-
uOn along the other line. He asked
Mr.. McAdOo:
IF you sat down 10 work out the
solution OF the railroad problem
wouldn't you have a recommended
tion in SIX months"
Yes" retorted the Director Cen
eral. IF yoU'u leave Il 10 me"
Don't you think Congress can DO
what you cam"
The Director General was doubt
fuL
Not SO Certain.
When you've so many conflicting
theories and have 10 bring 60 minds
into agreement. don't know" said
Mr.. McAdoo.
If the time or government opera
ton is not extended. believe the
roads should be turned back TO their
private owners as soon as possible"
said Mr.. NcAdoo
Senators Cummins and Kellogg.
both Republicans. were solicitous az
TO what might happen 10 rates and
railroad finances should the lines be
suddenly returned to their owners,
and asked. on the other hand as TO
what would happen 10 the authority
Of the States over utrastate ship
ments. should the Federal control be
extended for the fve-year period.
All trafIce must be regarded as
interstate" responded Mr. McAdoo
The President must have power TO
fix iutrastate rates as well as inter-
state"
Question Of speed.
Question OF the position OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission
under the fiye-year extension arose.
Senator CummIus obj-cted to the ex-.
tension OF the authority OF ,he di-
rector Eenvrsl acting for the Prrst-
dent to initiAia rates without pre-
yious review by the commission.
1t is necessary" responded Mr..
McAdoo. There's need for speed. at
times. and the authority exists in
tn" Interstate Commerce Commits
sion TO. review tho rates after they
have been initiated.
confusion and subsequent revision
OF rates as inflicted by the director
general and Insisted that the con-
fusion TO shippers under that sys-
TEN was murr serious than the de-
lay would have been.
Tho manner under which the
power has been exercised under the
war emergency. doesn't mean that 10
would be oNerci sed that way in
peace times" said the director gen
eral. speed was essential then.
We were winning war. ] should
not initiate any rate under peace
conditions. without an adequate
hearing OF tho interests affected.
Then there would stUl ho tn" power
Of rev .ew in the Interstate Com
merce Commission"
Explains Years losses.
Turning th" roads hack under
those conditions would be q crime.
declared Senator Cummins. who then(
took up Nj. NCAdoOs report on th<
financial showing under Federal
operation. This lad shown loss of
$4,000 coo durin- tn, FIRST year ~
Federal control.
Mr. NCAdoo finally became soma
what cNaspeTated af the comparison
~ 1915 figures with 1917.
Don't Nou understand that YOU arc
UuNTTNI-EGD uN FACE TWO.