Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-16
CUMM|NS SAYS MANY
LINES WILL De BANKRUPT
Two-Thirds OF American Railways,
He Declares, Would Not Last
Thirty Days.
PROTECTIVE LAW ESSENTIAL
No Sign From President He Has
Changed His Mind as to Turning
transportation Systems Back to
Owners at Years End.
PROTECTIVE LAW ESSENTIAL

WASHINGTON, Dee I5.-Concrce.
was warned today' that it the railroads
were turned back 10 their owners
without enactment meanwhile of les;s-
lation for possession of the properties.
two-thirds OF the roads would be in
hands of receiver within thirty days
Speaking with carnes,nces and
frankncss, Chairman Cummins OF the
Senate Interstate Commerce Commit
tee that drafted the pending railroad
bail. declared the Senate could not
sidera;ion in view Of the apparent de-
termination OF President Wilson to
end government control the first day Of
the new year.
Breaking into the debate while SEN
atorS were pleading for postponemcnt
oil acton on all railroad legislat ton
Minis told tho tho senate senate ''iu it's duty Was Was
plain.
Would Last Just n Month.
IF the roads are returned without
effective legislation they could exist
for a month. the Iowa Senator declared
amidst unusual silence. and then fall
into hopeless confusion. with two
IhiTd5 Ihi,.d5 90 o. , them quickly ending in re-
senator Cummins insisted Congress
could turn back the roads IL satisfied
tho people believed in that policy.
perfect eafs,y f Se Sees said 1 if"pSy IF tms coun
try is assured o. the b!ll's enactment
in ono months ;imc.
the Senate remained IN session tonight.
but as new fields of argument were
opened there developed little indication n
o; final action this week.
Think nilI VIII Pn,s This Week.
Lcaders insisted. however. that tho
bill would he passed by narrow
margin before Thursday, when the
holiday recess is expected to begin.
y
rising TO inquirc If II would not be
best TO defer consideration OF all rail-
road Legislation until January. pro-
voked n storm of discussion and drew
from Republican Senator's a warning
that there was no inaica tion of-NSny
change Of mind on the Presidents part.
dents statement 70 Congress in May,
that the roads would be handed back
a, the end OF the calendar year. Sena !.
to- Watson. Ecpuhlican. Indiana, called
attention to the fact that no word had
come from the White House 20 indi-
cate any change in the Presidents po-
sition.
President stands Pat.
Answering Senator Smith. who said
he could not believe the Preside n :
would carry ou, hie inte ntion, the In
no additional information has been
forthcoming tho Senate was warranted
in assuming that the President stood
pat. in which event. he declared it was
necessary Legislation"
During the all-day debate the prin-
cipai attacks on the CumminS bill
were made by Senators Lenroot, Re
publican, Of Wisconsin. and Stanley,
Democrat. OF Kentucky. the former in
sistins that the roads should bc'retaincd
by the government until spring. Sena-
tor Stanley, speaking in support Of his
amendment 20 eliminate The antistrikc
rrovision. viciously assailcd the section
las the most drastic and cXaspcratinS'
ever devised TO afflict the labcring pco-
pie.
Opposes Antistrike CIuusc.
The aatist-ikc provision. Senator
stanley asserted, was put in tho bill
over tho protest OF 100000 railroad
men. who had declared they would not
wear the yoke. It was so drastic, he
asserted. that il a man, employed with
better job with another road and the
wife went with him both could be
arrested and put in jail for con-
spracy.
After Senator Stanley had deferred
the rest OF his speech until tomorrow,
the Senate went 10 work on amend
ments.
One by Senator Walsh, Democrat, OF
Montana, permitting the roads to re
tain all earnings for new construction
work for ten years was adopted, as
Republican, OF Washington. limiting
jurisdiction of the transportation board
over water transportation 20 inland
waterways.
An amendment by Senator Curtis.
Republican, of Kansas. extending the
bills provisions TO short-line railroads
was passed over temporarily.