Show LJ L J RETURNS RAILROADS 0 TO OWNERS of b 4 Ja SHEA GREATEST TEST T u IN HISTORY o After Twenty six Months l of Government Operation as War Measure l 2000 Lines Go Back Bac to Former Regime 1 ily Dr al Service W A Feb 29 with more than Ulan OOOO of the 7 governments government's money invested in in them the railways rail of the country without t tany any formality whatever er Win will go back to their more than 2000 private man maJ at it midnight tonight During Daring the twenty six months Q of government o operation the roads at atthe atthe t the expenditure of many millions million o 4 of dollars have been heeD kept in good ope r OpEt sting condition and will return to the han hands s cf f their private operators J 1 ail p rf t. t n. n i J t The Th offices a of r tho the railroad 1 ita branche t out pie the e country will j cra lion Uon as long ns as s is necessary t to complete complete com corn com pieta details arising out of the transfer transfer trans trans- fer termed the largest lar Indu industrial turnover er In n history The value alue orthe ot or the transportation system which will change hands tonight is estimated at between and for tor which the government h has hs s paid in rentals some 9 yea year r. r e and a n Half Per Cent Assured With a return of or 5 per cent on t their capital stock Insured b by tho the Cummins l Esch sch law signed ned b by President Wilson yesterday the public is expecting first class efficient service and Will 1111 demand domand de do- dc- dc mand it as a right if Jt It Is la not forth forth- coming I Members of ot the Interstate comm commerce r commission already have havo been at work figuring figuring- the tho amount of ot the time hU huge e freight an and passenger rate Increase Increases which will be necessary to bring In Insufficient In sufficient operating revenue to guar gruar- a 5 per cent return It Is probable probable able that the President will Increase the personnel of ot the commission more mora adequately to cope with the problems problem's of ot rate Increases It is Js generally estimated that freight Increases of oC at nl least 20 O per pcr cent will wUl shortly be bo promulgated and that a a slight Increase in g s also will wilt bo tio necessary It Jt wax waS stated on the b an highest authority by official of ot the railroad administration today that thal most most- of ot these Increases have ha been unnecessary under under-contin continued continued contin government operation limes R mn p In Office Director General Walker D. D Hinez It was stated toda today probably will re remain remain remain re- re main in office until May Ia 1 to direct the liquidation attendant ant on the time transfer trans trans- fer for from public to private mana manage manage- o- o ment Hundreds J of ot clerks br brought here hero b by the tIme administration as 33 war workers were ere 5 yesterday paid off oct f for forthe r the last time as nearly nearh all depart depart- part part- meats ments o of oI the administration went ent out of ot existence with the exception of ot a skeleton force torce retained by Director Hines All necessary Instructions alre already d have been sent out b by the railroad ad administration ministration to lo the re regional directors whereby the tho Individual control of or the tho thon n nearly arly 2000 railroads will vill be passed over o smoothly at 1201 a. a rn m. m Rail Un Union on Chiefs to o Meet Nt Executives of ot all the big biff IG railroad unions will meet h here hrc re ton tonight IS-he IS Ir in connection connection con con- with th the Presidents President's approval approval- I of or tho the Cummins bill yesterday c and will frame framo a rt reply pl to his jn tho the labor unions to Ja lay their dema demands ds for increased wages 38 before the board boardo o of oC mediation which is tl shor-tl shortly to be bo appointed The railway labor unions representing represent represent- inS ing more than t two tro o million en m made do a n bitter light fight against the bill when It was waif before Con Congress s charIng charging char Ing that It favored fa tho the railroads against the interests of or tho the and of the public When hen the thc bill but camo caine before tim tho President for his approval I or disapproval al tho the labor c. c executives c strongly urged that hu ho veto eto It UI in I Noted oro It Is probably y that at al the tho conference confer confer- C dice ence ce to lo be bo held lain iatt tonight ht nyu U jv- jv in memorial e mo rial will bc bo drafted Informing time tho President Just how ItO the railroad labor labor unions feel feci reg his Ap Approval p p- p pro al of ot the tho measure It Jt Is too early carly at this time to predict tho the possibility I of a a. general railroad strike although such a n. mo o on tho Iho vart of the Ule railroad railroad rail rail- road unions to enforce their demands is not considered remote A great groat deal of or dissatisfaction pro pro- I I on on Page Pa 2 2 yr r I I I I I U U. 3 S. S RETURNS RAilS TO PRIVATE OWNERS O Continued from Pago 1 1 ails vails among amonS labor union heads head who feel that the they are arc entitled to an Im Immediate immediate Im- Im mediate Increase and that tho Pr sl sl- sl dents dent's suggestion for tor a consideration of oC their Fernanda b by a board not yet named named- will involve in an unreason unreasonable ble dela delay even en if H their findings aro are ac acceptable ac- ac c- c to tho railroad |