Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-02
RAILROAD STRIKES
FORBIDDEN BY BILL
cummins Measure for Federal
Control Provides Jail
Penalty
MANY REGIONAL SYSTEMS
Ry tile Associated Press

number of Regional systems under strict
government control, with strikes and
lockbuts of railroad employees prohib
tied; is the plan for, permanent. rail
road legislation submitted o-the Sen
ate To-day by the Interstate commerce
subcommittee. ".,. &c.,.
A tentative bill embodying the sub
eommittee's recommendations which
bear no resemblance to the Plumb plan.
had been introduced py Chairman Cum
Minis and referred to the full inter
state commerce committee. The bill is
the result of many months OF hearings
and work by the subcommittee, which
besides Mr.. Cummins, included Sena-
tors Kellogg, of Minnesota. and Poin-
dexter, of Washington, Republicans,
and Pomerene. of Ohio, and Robinson.
of Arkansas, Democrats.
Strikes Are Forbidden
Salient provisions of the Cummins
bill include ! .s IT,
Termination of government control
and feturn of the railroads to private
ownership on the last day of the month
Of enactment.
Establishing the Interstate Commerce
Commission with greatly increased
powers as the supreme body over rail
road affairs.
Supervision and control of virtually
all railroad affairs. including rates,
wages, operation and financing, by the
government.
Creation of new railway transpOr-
tation board of five members appointed
by the President to supervise railway
development and operation. subject to
final action of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. Creation of a new COM
mittee Of wages and working condi
tions, composed equally of representa-
tives Of employees and employers, with
wide authority in settling labor ques
tions, subject to decision of the trans
portatiou board and Interstate Com
merce Commission.
Prohibiting strikes and lockouts of
railroad employees under fine and i'm
prisonment penalties.
Defining new policy for ceucentra-
ton in ownership and operation Of
railroads, with federal incorporation.
into not less than twenty nor more
than thirty five regional systems.
NO guarantee by the government of
future railroad income. but limitations
made up on revenue to fair" divi-
dends based on value of properties fixed
BY the Interstate Commerce Commis-
zion. (.
The bill also provides that existing
railroad payment contracts with the
government shall be continued not
longer than four months and that pres
ent rates shall continue until changed
by the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion, with provisions looking to imme-
date action toward readjustments.
Regional Rail Systems
The keynote of the subcommittee
bill, Chairman Cummins stated in an
explanation to the Senate. is the plan
for establishment of twenty to thirty
i've regional rail systems.
The new method for settling labor
disputes is the proposed committee Of
wages and working conditions, Senator
Cummins said, adding:
1T creates a committee Of wages
and working conditions, which is to
be composed of eight members, four
representing labor and four representing
the railway companies. Each railroad
craft is to nominate candidates for
this committee, and the board is re.
quired to appoint four from among such
nominees. Each railroad corporation is
to nominate a candidate for member
ship, and the board is to appoint four
persons from among such nominations.
This committee is to consider all
complaints submitted by representatives
Of the employees or of the carriers. and
h,to decide by a majority vote, and its
decisions are to be certified to the trans
portation board.
If the committee of wages and work
Ing conditions is. evenly divided upon
any dispute the whole matter is to be
certified to the board, and the decision
Of the board is final and constitutes a
governmental judgment with respect to
the matters in controversy.
1t provides that the committee and
transportation board shall take into
consideration the scale of wages paid
for similar kinds of work in other in
dustries! the relation. between wages
and the cost of living: the hazards of
the employment; the training and skill
required; the degree of responsibility,