The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1919-09-04
WOULD PUT END
TO LABOR STRIKS
CUMMINS RAILROAD BILL HOLDS
INTEREST OF SENATE-PRO-
VIDES RIGID CONTROL. I

vIDES RIGID CONTROL.
Washington, Sept. 2.-The Senate
today received and discussed for sew
eral hours a bill outlining a perma-
nent railroad policy as evolved by a
bipartisan interstate commerce sub
committee.
Paramount among the features of
the Cummins bill, Senator Cummins,
Republican, Ohio, having acted as
chairman of the subcommittee, are
provisions for termination of govern
ment control of the railroads, their
return to private ownership and op-
and consolidation into regional sys-
TENS and prohibition of strikes and
lockouts of employees. The measure
contains none Of the fundamentals Of
the Plumb plan.
Chairman Cummins,, in presenting
the bill, explained its provisions at
length. He, with Senators Robinson,
Arkansas;and Pomerene, Ohio, Demo
cratic members of the drafting sub
committee, laid especial stress on the
proposal to penalize strikes and lock-
outs, declaring the plan, although
novel, was necessary to protect the
public. The employees, the three
Senators explained, are protected un-
der the bill by provision that their
wages shall be fixed by governments
agencies.
The bill Senator Cummins told the
Senate, represents months of consider
alton by the subcommittee. Its key
note, he asserted, is the plan to ter
inmate government control, with con-
centration of the nations railroads
into twenty to thirty-fye regional
systems, providing for strict govern
ment supervision of virtually all rail-
road affairs.
Among the new agencies the bill
proposes are a railway transportation
board, largely to supervise railroai
operations, committee on wages and
working conditions and an emplofees'
advisory council. The Interstate
Commerce Commission also woull be
given greatly increased powers. anc
representation on all railroad direc-
torates of employees and the gov
crnment would be required.
Salient provisions of the CummIns
bill include:
Termination of government con-
troll ID return to private ownership
On tht last dav of the month en-
actment.
Establishing the Interstate Com
merce Commission with greatly IN
creased powers, as the supreme BODY
over railroad affairs.
Supervision and control of virtually
all railroad affairs, including rates,
wages, operation and financing, by
the government.
Creation of a new railway trans
portation board of I've members ap-
pointed by the President to supervise
railway development and operations
subject to final action of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission.
Creation of a 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 transporta-
tion board and Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Prohibiting strikes and lockouts OF
railroad employees under fine and
Imprisonment penalties.
Defining new policy for concen-
tration in ownership and operation OF
railroads, with federal incorporation,
into not less than twenty nor more
than thirty-fve regional systems.
No guarantee by the government
of future railroad income, but limlta-
tions made upon revenue to "fair" dl-.
vidends based on value of properties
fixed by the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
The bill also provides that existing
railroad payment contracts with the
government shall be continued not
longer than four mothsn and that
present rates shall continue until
changed by the Interstate Commerce
Commission, with provisions looking
to immediate action toward ADJUST
nlents.