The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1919-09-04
NEW RAILROAD BILL
PRESENTED TO SENATE
PRIVATE OWNERSHIP UNDER
REGIONAL SYSTEMS.
Provides for Limited Government
Control and Prohibits
Strikes and LockoutS.

numDer or regional SYSTEMS uHQeT
strict. government control, with
strikes and lockouts of railroad em-
ployees prohibited, is the plan for
permanent railroad legislation sub
mitted to the senate today by the
interstate commerce subcommittee.
A tentative bill embodying the sub
committees recommendations, which
bears no resemblance to the Plumb
plan, had been introduced by Chair
man Cummings and referred to the
full interstate commerce committee.
The bill is the result Of many months
Of hearings and work by the sub
committee, which besides Mr.. Cum
Minis, includes Senators Kellogg, of
Minnesota, and Poindexter, of Wash
ington, 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 pri-
vate ownership on the last day OF
IuC ulOlllh VI ShoSShhSnS'
Establishing the interstate COM
merce commission with greatly i'm
creased powers, and the supreme
body over railroad affairs.
Supervision and control of virtual
ly 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 new committee of
wages and working conditions, COM
posed equally of representatives Of
employees and employers, with wide
authority in settling labor questions
subject to decision of the transpor-
tation board and interstate commerce
commission.
Strikes and Lockouts Prohibited.
Prohibiting strikes and lockouts of
railroad employees under fine and i'm
pTlSOulueul ptudlllSS.
Defining new policy of concen-
tration in ownership and operation of
railroads, with federal incorporation
into not less than 20 or more than
35 regional systems.
. No guarantee by the government
of future railroad income but limita-
tions. made upon revenue to insure
fair bdividends based On value of
properties fixed by the interstate
commerce commission
/, The bill also provides that existing
railroad payment contracts with the
longer than four months and that
present rates shall continue until
changed by the interstate commerce
commission, with provisions looking
to immediate action toward readjust-
ment.
The keynote of the subcommittee's
bill. Chairman Cummins stated in an
explanation to the senate, is the plan
for establishment of twenty to thir-
ty-five regional rail systems.
The new method for settling labor
disputes is proposed committee Of
wages and working conditions, SEN
ator Cummins said, adding:
''It creates a committee Of wages
and working conditions, which is to
be composed of eight members, four
representing labor and four repre-
senting the railway companies. Each
railroad craft is to nominate candi-
dates for this committee, and the
board is required to appoint four
from among such nominees.
Each railroad corporation is to
nominate a candidate for membership
and the board is to appoint four per-
sons from among such nominations.
This committee is to consider all
complaints submitted by representa-
tives of the employees or of the car
riers, and is to decide by majority
vote, and its decisions are to be GER
titled to the transportation board. If
the committee of wages and working
conditions is evenly divided upon any
the whole matter is to be
certified to the board, and he de-
cision of the board is final and con-
oIllulCo u
with respect to the matters in contro-
versy.
"It provides that the committee and
transportation board shall take into
the scale of wages paid
for similar kinds of work in other
industries; the relations between wa
ges and the cost of living; the haz-
yards Of the employment; the train
ing and skill required; the degree of
responsibility and the character and
regularity of the employment"
Another provision of the bill re-
quires that corporation must have
among their directors two representa-
tives of their "claIified employees"
and also two directors representing
the government.
Another clause would create,
the transportation board, an
advisory council composed
OF representatives Of leach organiz-
ed craft employees to use one half
of excess earnings of companies,