Arizona republican., 1919-12-18
H|NTSFEDERA[ RAIL CONTROL MAY CONTINUE AF TER JAN. 1 Wilson Intimates Final De-
 cision Not Yet
 Reached 1 ASK TWO-yEAR DELAY Labor Seeks Fair Test Fol Plan Now Effective
 During Peace
TRepubIIcan A. p. Leased WireI

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-PresiGo.- Wilson's mind is still open on IT. question of returning the railroads to private control, Secretary Tumulty to- day told a delegation representing union labor and some farmers or ganizations which called at the White House to present 8 letter asking the executive to delay return of the roads for two years.
 This was the first authoritative ex- presson on the subject which had come from administration quarters since the president informed congress last May that he planned to relinquish federal control by January 1. The president Mr. Tumulty said, would be glad to get the views of the labor and farmers representatives, who insisted that a fair test of government opera ton in peace times should be given.
 Expect Early Vote on Bill
 While the delegation was at the White House, the senate was speeding up consideration of the Cummins railroad bill and apparently was near l ing a final vote Under the measure the roads would be returned to their owners within 30 days after the bill became law.
 Before going to the White House, the union labor and farmers delega- tion, which included Samuel Gompers of the American Federation of Labor and representatives of the railroad brotherhoods, called on Senator Cum mins, chairman of the senate inter state commerce committee, and asked that his bill be withdrawn. He indi- cated that he would lay the request before the full committee.
 The letter from the labor and farmers delegations to the president said proponents of the Cummins bill claimed that the president planned to return the roads by January 1. and
 that some legislation providing for such return must be enacted immedi- ately
 We believe that this assertion is a great injustice to you" continued the letter AS you doubtless know. an overwhelming majority of the farmers Aand members of the American Feeder ation of Labor and the railroad broth erhoods as well as the general public,
 favor an extension of the period of government operation CT rhe railroads for at least two years in order that
 a fair test may have been made of government operation and plan may
 be worked out for the ultimate dis
 posal of the roads which would be fair
 to all interests involved.
 Would Increase Living Costs
 Director General Hines and mem
 bers of the interstate commerce com
 mission have shown clearly that the
 return of the railroads will involve an increase in freight rates of close
 to billion dollars. This increase ir
 rates, according to the same authori- ties, will be reflected in an increased cost of living of at least s4.000, ,000. .00t year. possibly s5,oOo, 100000 Tn, ' American people cannot and shoul, not stand such an increase. } We respectfully request, MT. Presi
 dent, on behalf of the farmers. tn, , American Federation of Labor and th, s railroad brotherhoods as well as tn
 general public that you stop the ru . mors that you plan to return the rail roads to private control and that, il
 view of the changed conditions and tn, . prevalent industrial unrest, you re-es f tablish public confidence by advocat e ing that the period of government op 2 eration be continued for at least tw . years"
 D Farmers Seek Early Return Q During the day, ]. R. Howard rep I. resenting the American Farm Burea f Federation, made public a letter whic he had sent to Senator Cummin = transmitting resolutions adopted b 9 the federation ss Chicago last mont # demanding "the early return of tn
 railroads to private control under sue
 conditions and regulations as will ren
 der adequate service at just and equit
 able rates
 m The unanimous approval" = wrote, twas from a body of more tha ,r 400 active and actual farmers, holdin l. delegate power from two million othe
 farmers from 34 states in the union"