The Washington times., 1919-09-02

n
form the bill also embodies ideas OF
railroad executives and financiers as
well. The anti-strike provisions
arousss most comment Whether or
eanized labor viii accept this, even
with tie reception Il gets IN man
'agement Of the roads, win be the
paramount question in Congress.
70. 3. OVEneEship Looms.
In explaining the bill to the Sem
ate following its' introduction. Sena-
tor Cummins declared that unless
'@some such plan Of consolidation %
adopted, we cannot meet ali the trans
portation problems; and Government
ownership and operation are ineVit-
able"
Senator cummins said that II Gov
ernment Ownership and operation
would insure transportation to the
people at lower rates, he would Ia
Vor It.
sBut am convinced as a result OF
our own experience and that of every
other country that rigidly regulated
private control and oWhership win
Be better than GoVernment owner
ship" he declared.
Details OR Anta-ssFIke ClauSe.
In a statement today senator Cum
Minis explained the anti-striks section
In detail
This section imposes q penalty Of
tine or imprisonment, or both, upon
any carrier, or any officer Of any car
fier, who refuses to obey the decisions
Of the committee Con wages and
working eonditions) after it has been
approved By the board trailWay and
transportation board).
"It also provides that IL two or
more persons enter into any com
bination or agreement which sub
stantially hinders. rsstrains. or pre-
vents the movement OF commodities
or persons on interstate commerce,
such persons so combining and agree
ing shall be deemed guilty Of con-
spiracy, and shall be punished by q
6ne not exceeding $500, or by inn
prisonment act exceeding six months,
or by both fine and imprisonment pro-
Yided. that nothing herein shall be
taken to d9ny any individual the
right to quit his employment for any
reason.
Applies 70 OHissrs As Wen.
ait will be observed that this sec
tion applies equally to the officers or
their ehaployes. The intent Is to pre-
Vent any substantial interruption In
TRANSPORTATION, and the eject OF it
Is 70 forbid not only what 90 com
monty known as q lockout but also
what is commonly known as . strike
of the employees of q railway COM
pany. Il must be remembered that
the bill IN forbldding a strike, has
also provided for the settlement Of
all disputes by Government tribunal"
The bill specifies that money ad-
Vanced by the Government TO rail-
roads during the period OF Federal
control shall be converted into bonds
bearing per cent interest.
Not WateFsd stsek.
Precautions against watersd stock
are taken by requiring that capitali-
zation Of the roads shall be limited
to the actual property value, as de-
Commission.
The railway transportation board
is to consist OF five members; APP
pointed by the president, at a salary
Of $4,000.
Reorganization Of the 20 to 50
competitive systems called for would
not begin for seven years, durins
which time the board would be work
ing out its plan, subject to approval
OF the !. c. c.
Rate fixing powers remain with the
/. c. g,
The committee on wages and work
ing conditions would be composed OF
four representatives OF employees and
four OF the railway companies. In
cases Of deadlocks, decision would be
made by the railway board. This
board appoints the wage committee,
selecting from nominations presented
by employees and the companies.