Evening star., 1925-03-19
SEES RAIL MERGER
/. UP IN NEXT SESSION
Issue Will Be One of Most
important for Congress,
Says Cummins.

When Congress reassembles little
time will be lost in bringing up legisla-
tion providing consolation OF the rail-
roads OF the country. This will be
one of the major issues of the next
session, according to Senator Cum
minis of Iowa, former chairman of
the Senate interstate commerce com
mission, who conferred with President
Coolidge today before leaving Wash
ington for his home in Des NIoines
Senator Cummins called attention
to the fact that the Boston and Maine
and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St
Paul Railroad receiverships indicated
that legislation to support some of
the weaker systems in the United
states was necessary He believed
that consolidation legislation, along
the lines of the bill which he intro
duced In the Senate at the last ses-
sion, would provide an adequate
remedy for current railroad trouble
Under existing legislation the l. c.
{. has drawn up plan for regional
railroad merger which has not been
accepted by the carriers and has not
resulted in constructive action in that
direction. The law which Senator
Cummins proposes to have Congress
enact creates certain Inducements for
the railroads to merge on a regional
basis in accordance with plans which
have been approved by the commits
sion. If they do not consolidate with
In hve-year period, his bill pro-
vides they are to receive individually
the same treatment in the framing Of
rates, etc, as II they had effected con-
solidation. Senator Cummins is Of the
opinion that such a provision in the
law would make merger virtually COM
pulsory.
Favored ny Roads
Senator Cummins pointed out that
the railroads originally were bitterly
opposed to consolidation legislation, but
now were supporting it as a measure of
They have not, how
ever, accepted the compulsory merger
feature of his measure. and objections
also are advanced by certain State
railroad commissions. He believes,
however. there will be sufficient sup
port at the next session to bring
about the passage OF his bill. He is
confident that consolidation is un-
questionably a practical first step in
the direction of solving the trans
portation problem OF the Nation.
Senator Watson of Indiana, chair
man of the Senate interstate COM
merce committee. discussed railroad
consolidation along with a variety
of other subjects during a conference
with the President today. He said
il is his intention to devote much
time and study to the transportation
subject between now and the time
that Congress meets.
President at Work Early.
President Coolidge made few en-
gagements for today. He took long
walk before breakfast. and was at
his desk ahead of his usual hour. His
desk was well piled with papers, he
having left word when he left his
office late yesterday afternoon that he
wanted to put in a full day today
cleaning up pending routine business,
much Of which accumulated during
the tense situation of the past week,
while he was endeavoring to get a
new Attorney General Without say
ing so in that many words, the Presi-
dent impressed those who saw him
today as being greatly relieved that
it is all over. at least for the time
being, and that he can now give his
attention to the running of
the Governments business, as he gem
orally EXPIRE SSed II.
Others who saw the President today
were Senator Stanfeld of Oregon, who
wished to pay his respects before
leaving the city; Representative Por-
ter of Pennsylvania, chairman of the
House foreign affairs COMMITTEES;
Representative Cole OF Iowa and
Aubrey Bayles.