| Show t CONSOLIDATION f. f LOF OF RAILROADS L NOW PROPOSED B. B L 0 O. President Declares W L i-I i jl sr Control Camouflage v j 0 1 for Ownership t. t Washington a Feb 19 DanIel 19 Daniel president of oC the Baltimore Ohio con con- testimony toda today before the Sen- Sen ente en- en Me te interstate commerce committee proposed ultimate consolidation of all the country's railroads into about twenty five great sst systems along present pres pres- tnt ent nt tines lines as an au alternative e to the thc plan planor or establishing regional systems on a basis Mr lr Willard submitted a n map to snow show How competition would be preserved ed Under his Itis plan with tho the big roads ab absorbing ab- ab the weaker one Under the tho proposed re regional lonal system he said laid competition corn corn- petition would be he eliminated in each region and service would suffer suHer Funds for or purchasing the small roads hould be provided the committee was II told from excess earnings of the prosperous prosperOus pros pros- ones olles which otherwise would go ro goto goto to 0 the government It If ff Congress ss accepts extension or ot federal control until said Mr lr lr Villard Willard It lt Is accepting government o ownership under a different name j S 1 IN Proposed 5 his idea of oC the functions Mr Ir IrV of of oC a secretary of or transportation V will a rd favored f making the office olce largely lanel advisory The only two questions which should be 1 be C settled U before th the roads are arc relinquished relin relin- Mr Ir Willard said are arc those of or rates s and the settlement of or loans received from the government S Senator Cummins said he proposed to offer an amendment to the pending bill appropriating for the tho railroad rail rall- r road ad administration to prevent u of the roads until after Congress Con- Con gress has enacted new legislation jv he ne not be before beCore next Decem December berg In a prepared statement presented to the committee Howard president president prest- prest dent of or the tho Northern Pacific asserted that the reforms proposed by former Cormer Director General McAdoo doo could be obtained obtained ob ob- ob- ob under private mana management ement as suggested u rested by representatives of oC railroad railroad rail rail- road roal executives 5 Mr Ir Elliott summarized tl his views as f follows lows v First First Go Government ownership management management man- man g-ement g and operation of oC the American I Ir r railroads ads is riot not for Cor or the best Interest ot or the nation i Second Second Private Private ownership with wIs I energetic and hon honest st mana management ement and operation under suitable thorough and protective Je regulation will produce produce J the best results fo for the country countr 1 i S. S S Third R Regulation gula lion should be so o ar- ar ranged ran and directed as to preserve c and entourage e the initiative of the Amerlan Amerl- Amerl ran Ian an citizen t to be prompt and r pon- pon to Ui changing conditions but but at the f time provide ch checks to prevent r HJ unfair and dishonest practices b by ly n I i ers r and mani managers cr and also to pre pre- i nt repressive c unreasonable and con con- action b by regulatory bodies con I P Farmer J r Sire Arc heard of the railroads s under government o owner ownership b by a commission commis Commis- Ion sion of oC twenty five representing five Cho different ent industrial cl classes ses and IncludIng including ing women was the solution of the tho railroad problem proposed b by Benjamin Benjamine e 7 Marsh executive secretary of the farmers national councIL The Tile sharing profit plan of oC the rail rail- way brol brotherhoods was opposed ed b by tho the council Mn Mi March said fJald because it savors savor of class legislation lie ile said Raid his organization allon representing farmers desired action by Congress to purchase the tho railroads before the ex expiration ex- ex of the federal control act with money to be he provided b by taxing Inheritance inheritance In land values and incomes Members of ot the proposed administrative administrative administrative adminis adminis- board said the witness should be selected by one fifth each by farmers farmers' farm farm- ers ers' organizations railroad merchants and manufacturers manufacturers' associations associations and noncommercial municipal as associations associations as- as and one fifth to bo appointed directly b by the tho President |
