Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-19
SENATE IS RUSHING
WORK ON R. R. BILL

More rapid progress on the railroad
| bill was made today by the Senate
and leaders hopes of passing the
bill before adjournment tonight or
| tomorrow at the latest and enable
Congress to adjourn over the holt
days We're increased.
| Working on the few remaining
amendments the Senate reject ed s.
to %. The proposal OF Senator Smith.
demo- South Carolina. TO strike
out the clause requiring approval OF
/ the proposed transportation board
| for new railroad lines or extensions
/ Senator Smith and others declared
the board would be a political body
and that its powers would discourage
new construction and block commu
rity development. Senator Cumn.nS
and other supporters of the bill e
sisted that the authority for the board
is required to protect the publ,
against unnecessary construction
Republican and democrat leaders
Joined today in an effort to prevent
ifilibuSter from developing on the bill.
and said they were confident that, al
though considerable debate still was
in sight, the measure can be sent To
conference not later than tomorrow
and the recess plans of Congress
achieved.
The transportation steering com
mittee met while the debate was in
progress. and, it was said, urged that
every effort be made to pass the bill
and have Congress adjourn not later
than tomorrow night.
Demand Action on Two Other Bills
Besides the railroad bill, the repub-
lican steering committee decided to
insist also, before any recess is taken.
on passage of two other bills. the su-
gar relief measure and House bill in
creasing allowances to disabled Amer
lean soldiers. The republican leaders
said they were hopeful that all three
bills will be disposed Of by tomorrow
night but said if necessary the re-
cess would be postponed until next
week. They had assurances that
there would be no filIbuster on tn,
railroad bill, but feared some delaN
on the sugar bill. which the two Lou
isiana senators are opposing vigor-
ously.
The Senate held its fifth night ses-
sion on the railroad bill last night
The labor clauses including the anti
strike provision of the Cummins
measure, were under discussion dur
ing the day, eliminating in the re
lection by vote of - 10 &c of the
proposal Of Senator Stanley. democrat
Kentucky, to eliminate the whole
section. Efforts toward a compro-
mise ensued.
During the debate an agreement was
reached by Senate and House majority
leaders not to permit a holiday re
cess until the measure is through the
Senate and sent 10 conference. At
their conference, however, Senator
Lodge and Representative Mondell
agreed to suspend House business
Saturday to permit members of the
lower body to go home for the holt
days, even if the Senate is held by
delay on the railroad bill. Beginning
Monday, House sessions will be per-
functory under a ''gentlemen's agree
ment' to transact no business until
January 3. but to adjourn from day To
day until the Senate recesses.
After defeat of the Stanley motion
to strike out the entire labor section
by vote of 46 to 25 Senator McCor-
mick. republican. Illinois, offered a
substitute plan, similar to the Cana
dian system, to prohibit strikes for
sixty days after decisions of the ad
justment board, and requiring deci
sions from the board within ninety
days.
On tie vote of 81 to 81 the substi-
tute of Senator Mccormick. republi
can. Illinois, for the anti-strike pro-
vision was rejected and Mr.. McCor--
mick gave notice that he would ask
for another vote later.