The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-11-12
HOUSE COMMIT
TEE ADOPTS BILL
Ear,y Passage Of Rail Bill Meas
ure is Planned By
Leaders
STRIKES AND LOCK
OUTS ARE FORBIDDEN
Propose Penalties Against En-
.ployers and Workers For Vi
olating Contract


ion in its program Of permanent rail-
road legislation, the House interstate
commerce committee completed the
/ bill which will be presented for con-
sideration in the House beginning
Tuesday Passage Of the bill by the
end of next week is planned, Repub-
[ ilican Leader Mondell informed the
House on adjournment tonight By
that time, he said. he hoped the treaty
situation in the Senate would be such
as to permit adjournment Of the
special session of Congress. Night
sessions Of the House will be held
next week, ii necessary, to pass the
/. bill, he added.
The committee worked all day on
the labor provisions. Various fprns
of anti-strike legislation, including
Ia provision carrying fine and inpr:s-
onment for strikers, were voted down
i! none of the proposals receiving more
than half a dozen votes. A minority
report on this or other provisions, on
which the committee failed to agree
unanimously, is not expected, but the
disagreeing committeeman said they
would carry the fight into the HouGe.
The committee bill differs radically
from the Senate committee proposals.
No provision is made for creation Of
a transportation board, which under
the Senate meashure would odvise the
Interstate Commerce Commission over
railroad matters. The House bill cen
ters about increasing authority Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission
over the rail carriers. although pro-
posals, for giving the commission con-
troll of water carriers and telegraph,
and telephone companies were re-
ljected.
Voluntary arbitration through
boards similar to those created dur
ing the war was agreed on by the
committee as the basis Of the labor
section. The only penalties provided
are assessment Of damages against
railroad for q lockout Of employees
in violation of a contract or against
IA union authorizing strike that
would be liable to double the dam
ages suffered by an empioye from
loss Of employment, and the union
would be liable for the full damages
suffered by a carrier because OF
breach of an employment contract.
Damages would be collectible by
Icourt action and any judgment against
mon property, not including insur-
Iance, pension or other benefit funds.
The bill would set up two boards
for adjusting disputes with head
quarters in Chicago. The railway Ia
ibor adjustment board would be com
pcsed of twenty union appointeS and
twenty representatives CT the railway
executives. and function through
conference committee. chosen from
the general membership of the board
to represent each union directly in
tcrested in the dispute, and an equal
number Of employer members. De
cisions would require concurrence OF
two-thirds Of the committee member
ship.
Failure by the adjustment board to
agree would refer the dispute au-
tomatically to the railway board Of
labor appeals. composed of nine mem
bers appointed by the President. with
equal representation being given en-
ployes, employers and the public.
Decisions by this board on appealed
cases, however, would be made by the
labor and employer representatives.
concurrence of five OF the six mem
bers being required.
The appeal board also would be
charged with a study of relations BE-
tween carriers and employees. The
public group would vote on all ques-
from
adjustment board.
To provide capital for the carriers
following return Of the lines to prl-
vate control, the bill directs that the
government continue payment OF the
standard return or rental for six
months, extending payments to short
line railroads that have not been TN
der government operation. Govern
ment loans within one year after the
return also are authorized on ap-
proval by the Interstate Commerce
Commission of security rendered at
per cent interest and to mature in five
years Debts incurred during gov
ernment control would be refunded
during a period Of ten years. mean
while hearing interest at per cent.
Government control and operation
under the bill would cease at the end
of the month in which the measure is
approved by the president. unless such
approval is given after the 18th day
of that month, in which event privat"
operation would begin at the end OF
the next month.
The committee bill contains a nc>
c.otuatory. r-,,la of rate making re-
curing the Interstate Commerce
Commission 20 consider the interest
Of the public shippers the reasonable
cost Of maintenance and operation,
in nciuGinG the wage of labor. deprecI-
alton and taxes and a fair return upon
the value of the property used Or held
! for the service of transportation in
reaching its conclusions.