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Show PLAN PURCHASE OF MflOAOS Transportation Situation Presents Pre-sents Problem That Appears Diilicult of Solution. SHORT LINES DETRIMENT RATHER THAN HELPFUL Commission of Prominent Men Divided Upon Proposition to Consolidate. BY THOMAS EMMETT. Special Cable to The Tribune. DUBLIN, Aug. 20. Ireland has a most Interesting railroad situation on It3 hands and its settlement will have far reaching effect. Tho Irish roads are short and work Independently of each other, and complaint has been constant that they not only havo not aided in the development develop-ment of tho country, but also havo been really a detriment. A vice regal commission commis-sion was appointed four years ago to consider tho entire Irish railroad situation situa-tion and to niako recommendations. It has Just made its report. Tlio commission commis-sion reports In favor of amalgamation of all the Irish railways Into ono concern for tho sake both of tho railways and tho country. At this point tho commissioners commission-ers disagree. Four recommend stato purchase pur-chase and thrco that tho amalgamation remain a private undertaking, but under government supervision. Tho four who recommended stato purchase pur-chase of the Irish companies are Sir Charles Scotter, chairman of thc London Lon-don & Southwestern; Lord Plrrle. head of Harland & Wolff, Belfast, and of shipping ship-ping undertakings; Colonel Hutchcson-Poo, Hutchcson-Poo, an Irish landlord, and Mr. Thomas Exton, ox-M. P. Their proposal Is that the railways should be managed by an elected authority, that the Interest on tho capital bo guaranteed by the state, and that any ultimato doflclency bo made good by a general rate struck by the authority. Mere amalgamation, theso commissioners say, would mean better dividends and not better facilities. They mention Irish coal llelds, which wait development bc-causo bc-causo tho private railway companies will not build connecting: lines. They stale that export rates must be reduced for tho development of Irish industries, and tho companies cannot be expected to do it. The purchase of all tho railways should bo mado by the Issue of state guaranteed guaran-teed stock. Besides there should be. they say. an annual grant of at least 51,250,000 which would help to promote trade and mitigate poverty. They propose a railway rail-way board of twenty, twelve elected by the ratepayers, three in each province, chosen by delegates elected by tho local authorities. Tho minority against stato purchase are Sir Herbert Jekyll of tho board of trade; Mr. J. A. F. Aeplnall, general manager of the Lancashire & Yorkshire rallwiiy, and Mr. W. M. Acworth. They say that tho existing companies do not mako excessive ex-cessive proflls. and they recommend that they should havo power of amalgamating without going to parliament and bo Induced In-duced to amalgamate by promlso of bettor bet-tor terms for loans and concessions. Compulsory Com-pulsory amalgamation Is suggested after three years. Thoy believe mat railways aro moro economically managed privately private-ly than by state, but recommended supervision su-pervision to prevent the danger of monopoly. mo-nopoly. The Impression Is growing that tho conference con-ference over the lords' veto will result In an agreement granting home rulo to Ireland, Ire-land, Whllo the sufferers maintain thc strictest silence as to all matters pertaining per-taining to the conference, I undorstnnd that Irish leaders havo beon assured If an agreement Is reached It will prove satisfactory sat-isfactory to tho Irish members of parliament. par-liament. This is taken to mean but ono thing, an agreement as to homo rulo. |