Evening star., 1919-11-09

ate would be such, he thought, as to
permit adjournment.
Anti-Strike Efforts Fail.
Repeated efforts to have the anti
strike provision included in the per-
manent railroad disposal bill in COM
mittee failed.
The committee worked all day on
the labor provisions. Various forms
of anti-strike legislation, including a
provision carrying fine and imprison-
ment for strikers, were voted down,
none Of the proposals receiving more
than a half dozen votes. A minority
report on this or other provisions, on
which, the committee failed to agree
unanimously, is not expected. but the
dina greeing conJritteemen said they
weuld carry tho fight into the House
The committee bill differs radically
from the Senate committee proposals
No provision is made for creation OF
transportation board, which under
the Senate measure would advise the
Interstate Commerce Commission OF
the railroad matters. The House bill
centers about increasing authority OF
the Interstate Commerce Commission
over the rail carriers, although pro-
posals for giving the commission con-
troll of water carriers and telegraph and
telephone companies were rejected.
Arbitration and Penalties.
Voluntary arbitration through
boards similar to those created dur
ing the war was agreed on by the
committee. The only penalties pro-
vided are assessment of damages
against a railroad for lockout of
employees in violation of contract. or
against a union authorizing 4 strike
that would violate a contract. Under
the provisions. the carrier would be
liable to double the damages suffered
by an employe from loss OF employ
n1ent, and the union would be liable
for the full damages suffered by a car
rier because of breach of an employ
nlent contract.
Damages would be celIectibIe by
court action. and any judgment
against a union would be limited to
its common property. not including
insurance, pension or other benefit
funds.
The bill would set up two boards
for adjusting disputes with headquar-
ters in Chicago. The railway labor
board would be composed
of twenty union appointees and twen-
ty representatives of the railway ey-
ecutives, and function through CON
ference committee" chosen from the
general membership of the board, to
represent each union directly inter-
ested in the dispute and an equal
of employer members De-
cisions would require concurrence of
two thirds of the committee member
ship.
Failure by the adjustment board to
agree would refer the dispute auto
to the railway board of la
Dor appeals, composed of nine mem
bers appointed by the President, with
equal representation being given en-
ployes. employers and the public. De-
cisions by this boar on appealed
cases, however, would be made by the
labor and employer representatives,
of five of the six mem
bers being required.
The appeal board also M.uld be
charged with study of relations be-
tween carriers and employees The
public group would vote on all uues-
tions except those certified from the
adjustment board.
Rule of Rate Making.
The committee bill contains a new
statutory rule of rate making, reauir-
ing the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion to consider 'the interest of the
public, the shippers, the reasonable
cost of maintenance and operation, in
the wages of labor, deprecia-
ton and taxes. and a fair return upon
the value of the property used or held
for the service of transportation" in
its conclusions.
Rates initiated by the railroad ad-
during government con-
troll would be continued until other
wise changed by or pursuant to au-
thority OF law" and the bill increases
he membership Of the Interstate Com
nerce Commission from nine to eleven
members. and salaries Of members from
900 to $4,000 a year.