Arizona republican., 1919-12-11
NOPROTECT|ONFOR PUBLIC IN CUMM|NS
 BILL SAYS SENATOR
La Toilette Denounces the Proposed Rail Measure as Greatest Stain on American Legislation"
IRepubIlcan A. p. Leased Wlre1

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.-Attacking the Cummins railroad bill as a meas ure especially designed to help the roads with their return to private | ownership, Senator La Toilette, repub- | lican. Wisconsin, declared in the sen | ate today that its enactment would constitute the greatest stain on leg islation in the history Of the American nation"
 There is nowhere in this bill one clause in the interest of the people, said Senator La Toilette, who charged | that the measure sought to validate Fall the chicanery of II years of rail- road jugglery," and fasten 1t on the | people. Contending that government ownership was the ultimate solution of the railroad problem, the Wisconsin senator declared the plan had not been | given a fair test before there had been an organized press and railroad organization to discredit 1t. In fram- ing the bill to meet conditions with the end of the war time control, Senator La Toilette said the senate interstate commerce commission had not given 8 full hearing to the army of railway employees, vitally concerned in the fu- ture policy of dealing with the great transportation systems.
 When the senate recessed tonight Senator La Toilette had not concluded his address and he will resume to- morrow.
 While Senator La Toilette was as- sailing the Cummins bill, Robert S Lovett, president of the Union Pacific system. in a statement sent to mem. bers of congress, declared the meas. ure had the merit at least of recog. nizing the facts of the railroad situa. ton and the courage of grapplinl with them in an honest attempt tt solve the problem"
 Attacks Labor Provisions
 Judge Lovett described what h. considered as the good and bad feat ures of the Cummins and the Escl bills, declaring that the most amaz ing" provision of the Esch measure a amended by the house dealt witt labor.
 Tt effectually perpetuates ever. wage increase and every working rul or regulation made by the railroad ad ministration during the stress of tn war and abnormal conditions resultin therefrom," he said.
 MT. Lovett objected to the section o
 the Cummins bill declaring five an f one-half per cent on the value of tn railroad property as determined by tn a interstate commerce commission as 7 reasonable return" and confiscatin : all in excess of six per cent upon sue , value.
 T deny that our people are in favo : of confiscating the net earnings c ! railway company saved by it out C reasonable rates established or ap : proved by the government itself" M S Lovett said. Further increases 1 freight rates undoubtedly are neces V sary as the governments own exper
 fence with the railroads shows" |
 said, adding that mo well-informe
 persons could expect railway wage
 to be materially reduced under exist
 ing conditions"
 The chamber of commerce of tt United States, in a statement toda calling attention to its referendum la.
 year on needed railroad Legislation | said that unless the governmer l. adopted railroad policy that woul enable private corporations to me,
 expenses and obtain necessary cap
 tai. corporate operation will fail an
 the government will have to resun
 the burden of operation and probab s of owning the roads"