The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-12-26
BATTLE LOOMS
OVER CONTROL
OF RAILROADS
Senator Wheeler Expected
to Touch OFF Long
Brewing Fight.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 26-Sena-
tor Burton K. Wheeler's arrival in
Washington is expected to touch of
the Iong-smoldering fight over gov
eminent ownership Of the railroads.
Already the forces are modifying
with organized labor preparing to
take a militant stand for the Sena-
tors naturalization bill, and the
arrangements, reinforced by finan-
cial, manufacturing and shipping
interests ready to attack the plan as
a move toward Specialization of all
basic business.
Senator Wheeler ID, MontD
chairman of the Senate Interstate
Commerce Committee, is hurrying
home from Manila, where he at
tended the Philippines Common
wealth Inauguration. Illness of
Mrs Wheeler delayed his departure,
and he is not expected here before
the opening of Congress Jan. 3.
New Bill Is Necessary
Spokesman for the Railway Labor
Executives Association will urge him
to begin immediately to press his
measure. This association which
went on record earlier in the year
for government ownership, has es-
tablished a publicity bureau which
already is bombarding Congress with
literature faVoring nationalist
ton.
The mere introduction of the
Wheeler bill last April caused con-
sternation to the arrangements,
Much Of the activity of the Associa-
ton of American Railroads has
since been directed toward building
up sentiment against it. Senator
Wheeler had intended to begin
hearings last session but the press
of other business prevented a start.
Introduction Of a new bill will be
necessary, since the pending one
calls for a temporary taking over Of
the roads on Jan. l pending perma-
nent acquisition proceedings. The
temporary operation would be on a
rental basis similar to that used I'M
der Federal control during the
World War
l. c. c. to Oppose Move
In general, the Wheeler plan fol-
lows the outline drafted by Joseph
B. Eastman, Federal transportation
co-ordinator, although Mr.. Eastman
in reports to Congress has repeated
that the time is not OppOrtune for
government acquisition. The In
terstate Commerce Commission like
wise will oppose the move.
The Wheeler bill provides for Gre
alton of a Federal corporation for
acquiring the properties either by
consolidation of the present COM
panieS with the corporation and an
exchange of their securities, or use
of eminent domain and payments
for the properties in debentures
guaranteed by the government.
Operation of the railroad system
would be vested in five $20,000-a-
year trustees appointed without re-
gard to politics The l. G. G. would
retain the same authority it eXer-
cised over rates during the former
period of Federal control, and an
advisory council of "a members
would represent industry, labor and
the public interest.
Agitation for Federal ownership
has resulted in establishment of the
Transportation Association of Amerl-
ca, which is recruiting outside bust
ness interests to resist the move.
Bankers, manufacturers, packers
and traffic executives of large
corporations are included in its di-
reCtOrate.
Thomas B. Huff. president of the
association and president of the
American Serum Co. of Sioux City,
Ia, in a recent address branded the
Wheeler bill as "SOcialiStic piracy
and charged that the Administration
had already embarked on socialism
through its electric power policies.
Mr.. Huff said the responsibility Of
repairing transportation maladjuSt-
ments rests with the private owners
rather than the government, which
would enter a field of which it
knows nothing"
The Labor Executives Association
countared with a blast charging that
banking interests have already vic
timized railway stockholders and adj
vocating naturalization as the only
rethod of removing the carriers
L. o0,,+-A1