Bisbee daily review., 1920-02-29
WILSON SIGNS
 RAILROAD BILL
(CoNrlNUED FROM PAGE oNE)

| j6:3O o'clock and after it had been as. sumed that MT Wilson would not act before tomorrow.
 At 12:01 a. m., Monday. the govern ment will hand over to their owners 240 ,000 miles of main line railroad and terminals and equipment, valued at approximately $20,000, 100000, over which its direct authority has been decided since December 2S, 1917
 The properties will go back, leaving the government with a deficit of $715,5 5,5OO.O00 for it's 26 months of oper- ation. But while the deficit appeared large, federal operation has cost the public considerably less under the con- ditions, through rates and taxes than would have been the case under pri- vate control" Director General Hines declared in a statement of government management.
 MT Hines believed that the nation and railroads as well gained benefits of lasting character from the period of unified operation.
 The railroad corporations will start work with an important psychological asset. MT. Hines said, pointing out that the public holds to rigid responsibility any agency performing a public scIN- ice, without regard for the difficult ties of the situation" He declared the company officials resume direction O1 their properties under the most fav- orable conditions of public sentiment"
 The railroad administration will still have definite work to do after the roads are returned. In addition to providing transportation service, it has been charged with administration of contractual relations between the gov eTnment and the roads, MT. Hines eX- plained. The government was obli- gated to pay $917. .000,000 annual rem tai to the corporate owners. This, and the other fiscal relations which involv- ed the purchase of great quantities of supplies and equipment, will require a continuation of part of the railroad administration indefinitely. Mir Hines, however, expects to be able to turn over practically completed task shortly after May l.
 Answering directly assertions that the roads would be returned wreck ed," MT. Hines declared they would be restored in a condition which com pares favorably' with that in which
 
 ion in better shape to meet demands upon them than they would have been after the two such strenuous years, under private management.
 The administration, he said had made every effort to observe the con- tractual obligation to maintain the properties in substantially as good con diticn as it received them He point ed to the expenditures of approximate " S1,200,000 600 for improvements, re- pairs and rebuilding as proof of this.
 The government bought for the roads total O. 100000 freight cars and .930 locomotives. While this is below normal purchases for like I, --r cd. 1t was explained that physical in- ability to obtain equipment because on the exigencies of war was the only req. son the normal purchases were not made.
 The roads will go back to private control with important wage demands pending, but the same conditions ob- tained when the government assumed direction, MT Hines pointed out. add ing that machinery will be set up eith- CT through the railroad bill or throug.i bipartisan and voluntary action to ad- just differences. The whole question Of rates of pay will then be reviewed, he said in the light of existing condi- uons and based on the just needs of employees.