The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1920-03-05
CARRIER SYSTEMS OF NATION GO
BACK TO PRIVATE OWNERS AFTER
26 MONTHS FEDERAL OPERATION
QUARTER OF MILLION MILES OF RAILROADS
WITH TERMINALS AND EQUIPMENT VAL
UED AT $2O,OOO,OOOOOO REVERTED TO
OWNERS MARCH FIRST

At 1901 a. m. Monday, March 1st,
the government handed over to their
owners 100000 miles of main line
railroad and terminals and equip
ment valued at approximately $780,
000,OO0,000, over which it has had di-
rect authority through the United
States railroad administration since
December 28th, 1917. Under the new
reorganization bill the government re-
tains certain amount of jurisdiction
through the enlarged interstate conf
merce commission.
Sends Instructions.
While all arrangements for formal
restoration of the carriers to their
owners were completed February %
by Mr.. Hines, instructions went out
Sunday to operating representatives
Of the railroad administration inform
ing them that they would report to
the proper officials of the corpora
tions which resume control at 1901
a. m. March l." Of the gigantic or
ganization created by former Director
General McAdoo as a wartime exped-
lent, only small part will remain.
| Regional officials, federal managers
and treasurers and many high officials
comprising the director generals staff
will cease to function as such at the
designated hour. Some of these have
gone back to their former places as
officials of the corporations, while
others have entered new lines of en-
deavor. Mr.. Hines will continue in
his present capacity until about May
1, although without any railroads to
direct, he still faces the settlement of
literally thousands of claims, contracts
and grievances. ..
Not All Contracts Signed.
Only lat of the 230 compensation
contracts with the corporations actul-
ly were signed during the government
control, and the remainder will con-
tinue to be the subject of negotiations.
Damage claims have arisen of which
many still are pending. Labor still
has several cases before the war labor
board and Mr.. Hines has assumed his
position until these are completed.
Payments of retroactive wages, if de-
cided in favor of the workers, and
others will mean the especial interpre-
tation of agreements of labor, of
course will refuse to have altered by
the corporations. Many affect gen.
eral labor policies and represent vital
ly important questions from the labor
view.
The reply given by President Wilson
to labor's objections to the re-organ-
ization bill will be considered by the
railroad union chiefs. All of the un-
ion executives who are in Washington
will be called into conference for the
purpose of agreeing on public ex-
preston of railroad labor's attitude.
Competition Again.
With the lines again under private
control, there will be almost immed-
lately, resumption of the "days of
Corporation heads have
been preparing for this for several
The various roads will at
tempt to divide again the business
which has been handled jointly during
federal control, reports indicate.
Under New Negotiations.
The roads go back to private con-
troll under largely new negotiations.
The railroad bill, signed recently by
the president, gives the systems eer-
tain new privileges, but as an offset
it enlarges the interstate commerce
both in power and person.
nel. The corporations no longer are
master completely of their bond is
sues, nor are they allowed to stand
solidly against labor, for labor's de-
nands, if not met by arbitration and
legotiation between the parties con-
,erned, go to the high court provided
or in the bill, and which sit in addi-
ion to labor and railroad representa-
ives, public representatives as we'll.
Development of water transporta-
ion, instituted by the railroad admin
stration is to be continued under di-
ection of the department. The whole
which has handled this
'art of the railroad administrators
uties will be transferred to the juris-
iction of Secretary Baker. These
waterway systems are regarded BY
ir. Hines as representing a "mere
"and in relinquishing con-
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