The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-09-02
!NORESEMBLANCE
TO PLUtT; PLAN
Interstate d nerce sas
committee $ mits Bill for
RaiIrc Control.
ST RlkEI PROHIBITED

Private Ownership and oper.
alton Under Government
Supervision Provided.
Washington, Sept. a. Private
ownership and operation of railroads
in a number of regional systems UNI
der government control, with strikes
and lockouts of railroad employees
prohibited, is the plan for permanent
railroad legislation submitted to the
senate today by the interstate COM
merce subcommittee.
A tentative bill embodying the sub
committees recommendations, which
bear no resemblance to the Plumb
plan, had been introduced by Chair
man. Cummins and referred to the
full interstate commerce committee.
The bill is the result Of many months
OF hearings and work by the subcom-
mittee which, besides Mr.. Cummins,
included Senators Kellogg, Of Min
nesota, and Poindexter, of Washing
ton, republicans, and Pomerene, OF
Ohio, and Robinson, of Arkansas,
democrats. Salient provisions Of the
Cummins bill include:
Termination Of government control
and return of the railroads to private
ownership on the last day of the
month of enactment.
Establishing the interstate COM
merce commission with greatly in
creased powers as the supreme body
over railroad affairs.
Supervision and control of virtually
all railroad affairs, including rates,
wages, operation and financing, by
the government.
Creation of a new railway trans
portation board of five members ap-
pointed by the president to supervise
railway development and operations,
subject to final action of the inter-
state commerce commission.
Creation of q new committee OF
wages and working conditions, COM
posed equally of representatives 81
employees and employers, with wide
in seftiing labor questions,
subject to decision Of the transporta-
ton board and Interstate commerce
commission.
Regional Systems Fixed.
Prohibiting strikes and lockouts OF
employees under fire and I'M
prisonment penalties.
Defining d new pollNy loi NchtNhSa
ton in ownership and operation OF rail-
roads, with federal incorporation, into
not less than twenty nor more than
regional systems.
No guarantee by the government OF
future railroad income, but limitations
made upon revenue to fair" dividends
based on value of properties fixed by
the interstate commerce commission.
The bill also provides that existing
payment contracts with the
shall be continued not
longer than four months and that the
present rates shall continue until
by the interstate commerce
commission, with provisions looking to
immediate action toward readjustment
The keynote of the subcommittee bill.
Chairman Cummins stated In an ex-
PLANTATION to the senate, Is the plan for
of twenty to thirty five
regional rail systems.
New Method OF Disputes.
The new method for settling labor
disputes is a proposed committee OF
wages and working conditions. Senator
Cummins said, adding:
1T creates a committee of wages and
working conditions. which Is to be COM
posed of eight members, four represent
ng labor and four representing the
'ailway companies. Each railroad craft
s to nominate candidates for this
committee. and the board is required to
appoint four from among such nomi-
1ees Each railroad corporation is to
dominate a candidate for member
ship, and the board Is to appoint four
persons from among such nominations.
This committee Is to consider all COM
,laints submitted by representatives of
he employees or of the carriers, and
s to decide by a majority vote. and it,
are to be certified to the
board. If the committee
If wages and working conditions IS
evenly divided upon any dispute, the
whole matter is to be certified to the
,oard and the decision of the board Is
inal and constitutes a governmental |
Judgment with respect to the matters
n controversy.
'It provides that the committee and |
board shall take into |
the scale of wages paid !
or similar kinds of work In other In |
the relation between wages |
md the cost of living: the hazards of |
he employment; the training and skill |
equired; the degree of responsibility, |
md the character and regularity of the !
Employees to Have Voice.
Another provision of the bill requires |
hat railroad corporations must have |
Lmong their directors two representa- |
ives of their classified employees" and |
lso two directors representing the !
government.
Another clause would create, through /
he new transportation board. an en- /
,loyes' advisory council composed OF !
representatives. of leach organized
raft of railroad employees" to use one
lalf of the excess earnings of the COM
anies above their fair dividends,
or the benefit Of employers as follows;
research to lessen hazards of employ
nent, extending of hospital relief, in
urance and pensions; technical educa-
roft- sharing system for employees.
he other half of excess earnings
would be used by the transportation
oard to buy equipment for lease to
he companies or for equipment loans.
Upon the passage of the act, the bill
rovides that the interstate commerce
commission shall divide the country
1to rate-making districts. hold regional
earrings and fix rates in regard to
ublic and shippers interests, wages
labor, cost OF maintenance and
pc ration and "a fair return upon the
alue of property"-to be fixed by
hysical valuations of the commission
nd to lower or raise rates in con-
)rmity.
The transportation board would es-
ablish the policy of establishing twenty
} thirty-fve regional railway systems,
nder federal Incorporation. for distinct
peration under competitive conditions.
treet and interurban railways prin-
lpally used for passenger traffic would
@ exempted from such consultations.
hitch would have to be approved by
ne interstate commerce commission
he boards powers would include gem
raj supervision of operating and