Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-02
Where Does the President s,andY

LOR more than five months the two houses
1 of Congress have considered and debated
legislation under which the railroads are to
be returned TO their owners. Each body has
passed a bill providing plan of surrender
ana 4 program of future government regu-
lation. \ committee of conference is now
at work in All effort to reconcile the wide
differences between those two measures In
Il few weeks at most. this body may reach an
agreement, present that agreement TO the
House and Senate and demand Il vote upon it
But up to this hour the third party to
legislation Of this sort has remained silent
The President who has voice in the enact
nent OF laws ana whose voice can only be
overridden by ~ two-thrds vote has given
Congress no Indication whatever Of his views
upon the questions at issue. II is known
by reason Of his recent proclamation that he
is prepared to surrender the railroads on
March l, and it may be assumed that he will
not reconsider that resolution But supposc
the legislation which is now in its final stage
Is unsatisfactory to him? Suppose he re-
fuses to approve of the conference report aud
II IL rs sent to- him as act of Congress-
ne throws it back upon the hands of its
authors?
At least three great problems are involved
IN the pending legislation. One deals with
the question OF compulsory arbitration OF
wage disputes against the present system
OF voluntary arbitration Of strikes to enforce
'"o"i ueHahuS another deals with the
amount OF earnings which railroads are 10
be allowed. ana third deals with the nxtent
o. the governments supervision OF the rail-
roduS under private management
upon not one Of these issues is the uosi-
.ioh OIL the president known to Congress- He
mas sent no message TO that body upon the
SuDoect and he has not been consulted by
i.loiHiouai leaders of the House and Senate
he mas 1ntlmatcd in one congressional adj
dress that n peaceable means of settling
iapor wars should be found, but that is q
mere generality. 1t does not mean appar-
entity, that the President is for or against
inc compulsory arbitration principle laid
uo"h III the Cummns bill. And the same
doubt as to the Presidents views upon other
issues is entertained by legislators
The blame for this state of affairs is diff
cult TO nix. For more than three months the
rresldent has been too i'll to engage in gen
erat conferences, and for that reason ner-
maps congressional leaders have felt il nm
wise on their part to consult with him or
70 attempt TO reach him. They have re-
NAMED away from the White House md
labored blindly in so far as tho prnsidont.
attltudc is concerned. upon the LEGISLATION
wien lHcy are now about to consummatc
me PRESIDENT, on his part. has not sought
ieiehces win the authors of the railroad
LEGISLATION. lie. no doubt has felt that If
nis views were desired, some means would
-" ,ouno OF approaching him. And since
no enort III that direction was made he has
LETT Congress to work out its propr,m ~
aided. '"" un
sui the time has come when co-operatiop
is demanded. The President shouh send -
message to Congress before il is foo J.to
outiining frankly and comprehensive HE
views. He should Indicate viii, c,oor,n.
what he will accept and what be wiIi "aoa.
The country is entitled TO know VIA ~
stands for in The present case