New-York tribune., 1919-11-18
Esch Measure Is Accepted
With Provisions for
Voluntary Arbitration
of All Labor Disputes
Strike Penalties
Are Not Included
Expect Prolonged Fight
When the Act Is Sent to
Senate for Consideration
New York Tribune
Tdskin0 0tON Brlr,rN

WASHINGTON. Nov. 1.-THE House
Of Representatives tonight, by vote
OF 20S to 169. passed the Esch bill
providing for the return of the rail
roads to private ownership and opera
ton.
The measure now goes to the Senate.
where railroad legislation differing
radically from that passed by the
House is pending as the next business
to be taken up after the peace treaty
with Germany is disposed Of.
The bill contains provisions drafted
by the railroad employees themselves
for the voluntary mediation and con-
Citation OF labor disputes in the same
manner they are now adjusted, but
without the penalties for strike that
are contained in the Cummins bill in
the Senate.
The labor section was adopted as "A
substitute for more drastic one that
was placed in the bill originally A
motion was made to-day to strike the
substituted section from the bill, but
it was defeated and the provisions re-
tanned by vote Of 253 to 112.
Before passing the bill tonight the
House struck from it a provision au-
thori2ing the Interstate Commerce
Commission to base rate schedules upon
the basis Of fair return on the rail
road properties
Fight in Prospcct in Senate
A prolonged fight is confronting the
bill in the Senate. In that body the
Cummins bill, containing a section
making strikes of railroad employees
crime, will be considered before the
Esch bill. A similar provision was de-
feated i'll the House by an overwhelm
ing maj jority.
The Cummins bill also creates q
Federal transportation board TO super
wise the operation of the roads. Gre
ates from twenty to thirtyhve com
pctitive railroad systems and guar
antees the owners of the roads Il divi-
dend of 6 per cent.
These provisions We're strongly OPP
posed in the House during considera-
tion of the Esch bill, and on the other
hand a majority of the Senate is op-
posed to many of the provisions OF the
|
ate leaders tonight said that there was
little possibility Of the two houses
agreeing upon bill before the roads
are returned to private ownership and
operation January |. Adoption OF a
temporary bill continuing the govern
ment guarantee Of earnings until the
two houses can agree upon permanent
legislation was predicted
Provisions of Esch Bill
The Esch bill was reported to the
House of Representatives on November
10, after it had been considered by
the Committee on Interstate and For
cign Commerce for five months.
The bill is divided into four titles
for purposes of clarity and easier ref
erence. Title deals with definitions
Title 2 deals with the termination OF
Federal control, government owned
boats on the inland waterways, settle
ment of matters arising out of govern
ment control, inspection of the records
Of carriers because of action arising
during Federal control, refunding OF
carriers Indebtedness TO the United
States, continuing in effect existing
rates, guarantee to railroads after
termination Of Federal control and
execution of the powers of the Presi-
dent.
The bill provides that Federal con
troll shall terminate at the end Of the
last day Of the month in which the ac'
is passed, if the act is passed on OF
before the fifteenth day of the month
or at the end Of the last day of the
month following the month in which
the act is passed, if the act is passec
after the fifteenth day of the month.
Thereafter the President shall not
have or exercise any Of the powers con
ferred upon him by the Federal con
troll act. except in pursuance of con
tracts or agreements entered into be
fore the termination of Federal con
troll.
War Department Gets Ships
All boats, barges, tugs and other
vessels used in inland and coastwise
traffic that have been operated by the
United States Railroad Administrator
are transferred to the Secretary OF
War, who will operate them, subject to
the United States Shipping Board.
The House rejected the committee's
plan for funding the $775,551 900 owed
by carriers to the government for I'M
provements and betterments, and sub
gtituted a proposal by Representative
Dennison, Republican, Illinois. provid-
Continued on page eleve~