Evening star., 1926-03-14
BR00KHART'S RAIL
/ PLANFROWNEDON.
officials of Lines Seeking
Mergers Say Proposal
Is Not Feasible.
BY the Associated Press

by the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. March l3.-Repre-
eentativeS of railroad executives who
have been working toward conSolida
lions of some of the largest rail sys-
1ems did not react favorably when
informed today of the suggestion of
Senator Brookhart of Iowa that all
roads be combined into one great
system.
Senator Brookhar suggested that
the one big system be mana ged by a
private corporation. which would be
allowed liberal earnings. but the
financing of which would be under
taken by the Federal Government
To put his plan into operation all
railroads would be condemned. He
outlined the plan before the Senate
interstate commerce committee to-
day. Commenting on the plan, l.. f.
l.oree. president and chairman of the
executive committee of the Delaware
and Hudson. said:
The experience of the country with
Federal administration of the rail-
ways in one system demonstrated that
there was no place at all in modern
life for an arrangement of that ma
ture.
Plans Two Consultations.
Mr. Loree plans for consolidation
built around the Delaware and Hud'
Son Co. which would give a fifth East
ern trunk line. probably including the
proposed new Pennsylvania
line. the Buffalo. Rochester and
Sittsburgh. the Wabash and several
others. He also is directing a con-
eolidation in the Southwest of the
Kansas City Southern, Missouri,
kansas and Texas and the st. Louis
Enit lavr-n ,-.,f1
a. H. Harris, vice president in
charge of corporate relations of the
New York Central. said he believed
Senator Brookheart'S suggestion
svould be forcing a situation. which.
ii permitted to develop, would take
care of itself.
THE proposition was made in GER
tain quarters years ago" he said. 1t
never has been taken very seriously
end, of course, can't be done. Ran
way history shows that the process OF
grouping and consolidation is con-
tinuous one which must continue to
take place slowly without forcing.
Senator Brookhart's suggestion would
be like trying to force the growth of
D. tree by some arbitrary process.
Act i'm Way. He Says.
IF those In charge would only lei
vhlngS alone, progress NOulu he iiiduc-
The transportation act at the present
time seems to make it Impossible for
roads to consolidate. The Interstate
Commerce Commission. which is
charged with direction Of the problem.
has been working on it for five years
and has accomplished nothing.
II believe that public sentiment is
changing, and that consultations
would be permitted. but there ar"
some roads that are successfully serv-
Ing the public as they are. l see no
reason why these should be forced intN
partnership. if they wish to avoid it. .
The New York Central is interested
In consolidating all OF its affiliated
lines, such as the Michigan Central.
Big Four. and is one of the sponsors
for the plan to establish four or five
great Eastern trunk lines.
f. y. Brown. chairman of the st.
Jouis-San Francisco Railway, who Is
engineering a merger Of the Frisco
and Rock Island Systems in the South
west, said:
"If Senator Brookhart's plan should
become effective. it would simply mean
Government control. That would he
very detrimental to the country, and
the public would suffer correspond
ingly."