Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-02-26
farm BODIES
DIVIDE over
|RA|LWAYA ACT
Majority Oppose q. s.
Ownership and Hold
Is Bill Constructive.

Washington, Feb. 26.-Represent-
atives of the railroad brotherhoods
called at the White house today to
present a memorial to President
Wilson urging that he veto the
compromise railroad bill. They
were joined by Representatives Of
the Farmers National council, who
supplemented previous request
for veto with written argument
The visitors did not see the presi-
dent, but were received by Secre-
tary Tumulty who promised to lay
the memorials and other docu-
ments before the executive.
Assault on Principle.
George P. Hampton, managing
director of the Farmers National
council. presented the arguments
for that organization. He said the
bill contained vicious provisions
antagonistic to American princi-
PIES"
Permission for merging the roads
would almost inevitably result In
an increased return on false capi-
talization,' he declared. The In
structions to the interstate COM
merce commission to fix rates to
yield net income of 5z per cent,
he continued, gives carriers -
good basis for demanding very
high rates, since the exact effect of
the increasing rates in reducing the
volume of traffic can not be fore
cast"
New Property Rights.
Other objections outlined were
that the rights granted the rail-
roads under the bill created for
them new property right estimat-
ed as worth to them at least
. Sc, ,000, 100000 and placed heavy
carrying charges on the people.
Mr.. Hampton declared that -four
times as many farmers, members
of the farm organizations, had
urged the two year extension of
government operation as had asked
that the roads be returned" and
presented credentials to show that
he represented a "large number Of
important farm organizations with
q very large membership"
IOWans Back Views.
II. L. Bissonnette. president OF
the Iowa State branch. of the Amer
lean Society of Equity, accompan-
led Mr.. Hampton. He said the So
ciety had endorsed the two-year
extension of government opera
ton of the roads and that it now
urged the president to veto the
railroad bill.
Farmers have to take risks nf
crop failure every year in order to
feed the nation" he said. "The
outstanding debt against farm val
ues is between $4,000, 100000 and
81, ,000. 100000 and the average rate
of interest is 5 per cent The gov
ernment does not guarantee this
interest charge of about $780, ,000,-
600 year to farmers. Why should
the government underwrite the
whole investment of the railroads?"
Big Six for Bill.
Washington, Feb. 26.-While the
railroad bill is in the department
of justice, being scanned with ref
erence to its validity, President
Wilson is receiving vigorous rep
resentations for and against his
approval of the measure.
The latest was submitted last
night by the "big six organiza-
tions of farmers, the National
Grange, National Farmers union.
International farm congress. Amer
ican Farm Bureau federation. Ma
tional Milk Producers federation,
and Farmers National congress.
reiterating the stand of several
million agriculturists against gov
ernment ownership or operation OF
the railroads and urging that Pres
ident Wilson sign the bill as .
piece Of constructive legislation.
Council Asks Hearing.
On the other hand, the Farmers'
National council sent a protest
against the bill, asking for an ap-
pointment with the president to
present reasons why the organiza-
tion advocates a veto.
White house officials indicated
that action would be taken by the
president before the railroads re-
xn 70 nnnkpo1 Maroh