The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-02-07
news REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
President Prociaims Return OF
the Railroads to Their Own
ers on March |.
GOOD PROSPECTS FOR BILL
First Shipload Of Deported Reds on
Its Way to Russia-Admirai Sims
Refuses Medal and Accuses Sec
rotary Daniels of Injustice.
By EDWARD w. PiCkARD.

President Wilson. having been con-
incurred If he carried out his an
nounced intention to return the rail-
roads to their owners on January l.
Hnce congress could not or would not
lass the necessary legislation by that
time, yielded to the situation and on
Wednesday issued proclamation set
ting the date for the return as March
l. In the intervening two months,
he believes. the railroads and express
companies should be able to prepare
adequately for the resumption Of their
business under their ownership
and control. This action pleased such
congressman and railway officials as
were interviewed. and the latter eX
pressed the belief that the roads
would be ready by March l. TO carry on,
OF course they expect congress to en-
act suitable legislation and the inter-
state commerce bill to permit such
sible for them to borrow the money
for needed equipment. extensions and
improvements.
Immediately after the issuance of
the presidents proclamation Direc-
tor General Hines made an appeal TO
all officers and employees of railroads
to redOuble their efforts to produce
the best and most economical railroad
service possible during the remaining
period of federal control. This really
was directed especially to the railway
brotherhoOds. which have been hold
ing in allowance their demands for
wage increases amounting to nearly
a billion q year to see whether the
governments efforts 10 bring down
the cost of living would have any
marked effect. They do not seem i'm
pressed by the present success of
those efforts and are growing restless.
1t remains to be seen whether they
will now wait much longer for the
decrease in prices. which the attorney
general has said are likely to begin
to appear next month.
The prospects for early legislation
for the return Of the railroads to their
owners have frightened very consid
erably. The senate having passed the
Cummins bill. conferences began to
adjust the differences between that
and the Esch bill passed by the house.
The clauses concerning wage adjust
ment, the forbidding Of strikes and
rf1f fr.nf ion
presented the greatest difficulties. The
conferees said they hoped to make
considerable progress before congress
reconvenes on January 5.
Loud cheers. metaphoricallv speak
ing. sped on its way the departing
transport Buford when at the begin
ming of the week II started for Eu-
rope. No one wanted ever to see any
part of the cargo come back. for that
cargo consisted of 249 rnbid and dan
gerous "reds" who were being deport-
ed by Uncle SaI1 for his own sake.
True to type. the radicals cursed the
United States TenomousIy as they
threatened awful deeds when they res
turn. They were headed by Emma
Goldman aand Alexander BerkmaH
who for many yearss have preached
their poisonous doctrine in America 4
almost unhindered. The delectable
Emma shouted, as she passed up
the gangplank: This Is the begin
ming of the end of the United States"
Just where the unsayory gang Is to
be landed was unknown even to the
of the transport until he
opened his orders at sea. 1t was pre-
sumed. however. that they would he
put ashore at Finnish port and sent
thence by rail to Russia.