Evening journal., 1919-03-11
EARLY EXTRA SESSION vTTALIY NEEDED 10 PASS
RAILROAD IEGISI. .ATTON.

strF,I failure NJ Congress 10 pass the bin 10 create
new revolving fund ~ s750OooO0O for the Rail
road Administration adapted 10 disastrous con
sequences says the Railway Age ~ leaves the Rail
road Administration almost without money and without
any source from which 10 get f. u cannot get it from
railway earnings because the railways are not earning
enough net operating income TO pay the guaranteed
standard return 60 the companies. The Railroad Ad-
mlnstraton may be forced 10 make the most drastic
economics I'm The maintenance Of the railways, regard
less Of future consequences. This would at directly
and indirectly. throw hundreds OF thousands Of out
OF employment at a time which government bodies and
officials are urging private Industries 10 give all The
ploymcnt they can. In spite Of any retrenchments II
may effect the Railroad Administration VIII continue to
be unable 10 provide The railways with funds with
which to pay their bills to The railway supply companies
10 may become Unable 10 pay The railway companies
enough Of their standard returns to meet their interest
and norpia dividends.
"Therc Is but one remedy FOR The condition the
action Of Congress has created. This is for President
Wilson 10 call the new Congress in extra session inn
medatey II has been reported that Congress will not
bo reconvehed until June Conditions affecting the trans
portaton and related Industries such that to post
pono providing a new revolving fund until June later
might be disastrous, not only % these industries but
60 the industries and workers Of the country Mhoe
Congress is responsible for the failure to create new
revolving fund Of The recent session President Wilson
will bo responsible II extra session is not promptly
IAN extra session need at once not only TO pro
vide the Railroad Administration with funds 10 is
sentsI 10 should have FOR the welfare Of the country
but also TO enable Congress TO proceed Immediately with
the framing Of legislation Under which the railways
be returned 10 private operation
'The Railway Age not political newspaper. II Is
no part Of It's function to attempt 10 say whether the
Republicans or the Democrats in Congress should be
blamed for the failure Of The railroad appropriation bill
TO pass and for consequences TO which this may lead
But Is our function a journal devoted to transpor
taon 10 call attention The fact that this incident af
fords one Of TIE most powerful Of the many arguments
the government has forged within the last fifteen months
against government ownership and operation.
at always has been argued against government owner
ship and operation that under 10 the management Of
railroads would become a football OF politics, TO the
great derment of industry and The people and with the
effect of corrupng politics itself The failure Of Con
gress pass this railroad appropriation bill whose en-
actmen was recognized all hands for the
welfare Of the country is the best evidence yet afforded
OF the soundness of the political argument against
erument ownership. 10 is peculiarly fine sample Of the
Kind Of thing which would occur over and over again
under permanent government ownership operation
welfare Of the nation. and especially Of its labor
ing people, has been utterly disregarded while the
bers Of Congress have engaged struggle which has
been carried on largely from political motives.
III the made by the government in handling the
railways during the fifteen months. including the
failure to pass this vitay needed piece Of legislation is
not sufficient to convince The American people that
permanent ownership and operation is wholly undeslr-
able we cannot what kind Of evidence could be
required TO convince them"
That declaration will strike q responsive chord in
every community in Delaware