The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-11-06
RAILWAY PROBLEM
DUE FOR SOLUTION
SENATE AND HOUSE WILL PASS
cuMMINs AND EscH BILLS
BEFORE VERY LONG.
COINCIDE IN MANY RESPECTS
Both Seek to Prevent strikes-Former
Provides for Creation OF Federal
Transportation Board. but This
May Be Changed.
BY JAMES p. HoRNAoAY.

BY JAMES p. HORNADAY.
Washington. as a whole
II about ready to tackle the railroad
problem. In due time the senate viii
pass bin which will bear the name
m senator Cumm rs of Iowa cllair
man Of the committee on Interstate
commerce and the house will pass a
hill which viii hear the name of Rep
reSeniative Esch Of Wisconsin. chair
man Of the committee on Interstate
Hnd foreign commence. These bills as
they VIII 20 to the respective legisla-
i've hruncheS will in some respects
he identical. but there will be- substan-
tiai differences which will have to be
ironed out in conference.
II seems reasonably certain now
that the principal difference will he
that the senate bill will contain a pro-
/ vision for the creation Of q transpor-
iation board which will take over the
administrative functions Of the inter
state commerce commission and leave
the commission the rate-making pow
ers which II now has. The house bill
In It's present form does not contain
any provision for the creation of n
transportation board. and n majority
Of the members OF the house commit
tee on Interstate and foreign com
merce have expressed themselves In
favor Of comforting on the interstate
commerce commission full authority
In the matter Of the regulation of the
railroads
The senate bill prescribes a definite
rule for rate making and makes pro-
vision for the distribution OF excess
earnings. fine hill provides that the
Interstate commerce commission shall
prescribe rates that will yield 5h per
cent on the aggregate property value
Of railroads In given rate-making
group. To this may be added one-half
~ 7 per cent for unproductive i'm
I ! -ovements. Should any road earn
MORT than g Der cent on the value Of
is proTerty the excess earning would
he dS'ided equally between the car
rier earning the money and contin-
gent fund in the transportation board.
Bot, Provide Against Strikes.
SstS. his as they will go from the
committees TO congress for considera-
tion win contain provisions designed
to prevent the transportation systems
from being tied up by nationwide
strike. The senate committee has
voted 10 insert In Its bill n provision
making II unlawful for railroad EN-
ployees TO strike. The house commit
ee has gone only so far as to provide
for the creation of a tribunal which
would have the final word in disputes
between the employer and the en-
ployee. One OF the matters still in
controversy Is as to whether legisla-
ton shall be attempted which will TO
any extent abridge the authority Of
the states over intrastate rates and the
regulation of purely interstate com
merce.
Both bills I'm their present form
contain provisions designed TO stabil-
ize the rate situation during the
period Immediately following the sur
render Of federal control. There IL
little doubt that the fina bill will
contain provision that existing rates
Interstate and intrastate-shall re-
main In effect until changed by either
the interstate commerce commission
or the state commissions.
The final bill as passed will greatly
enlarge the regulatory powers of the
government over matters relating to
car service, terminals. pooling of facIl-
tiles. etc. II a transportation board is
created those regulatory functions will
be vested In Il; II the Interstate com
merce commission remains as the sole
regulatory body, bureaus and sub
divisions will have TO be created by II
10 take care of additional work.
II is practically certain that IL a
transportation board is not created
the membership of the interstate com
merce commission will be Increased
from nine TO eleven or thirteen mem
beers. Congress is confronted with a
somewhat widespread demand that
the government shall surrender the
railroads TO their owners at the end of
this calendar year. The rnilroad com
missloners of the various states who
met In annual convention In Indian
apolis recently adopted a resolution
asking that the transfer be made at
the end Of the year, and congress al
ways gives consideration TO resolu-
tion with the states behind II In such
AN expressive way. But there are
many obstacles In the way of dispos-
ing Of the railroad legislation between
now and January I.
To Extend Vocational Training.
Further extension of the educa-
tional activities of the federal gov
eminent is provided by congressional
legislation now nearing the finish
ing stages. Just before the United
States entered the war congress made
provision for vocational education for
normal people. In cooperation with
the states. Under that legislation large
sums are now being spent annually
for vocational educational work. the
government paying one-half the ex-
pense and the state. II II chooses to