The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-11-13
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. HoRNApAY.

is about ready to tackle the railroad
problem. In due time the senate Will
pass a bill which will bear the name
of Senator Cummins of Iowa, chair
man of the committee on interstate
commerce, and the house will pass a
bill which will bear the name of Rep
resentatlve Esch of Wisconsin,, chair
man of the committee on interstate
and foreign commerce. These bills as
they Will go to the respective legisla-
tive branches will In some respects
be Identical, but there will be substan-
tial differences which will have to be
ironed out In conference.
Ii seems reasonably certain now
that the principal difference will he
that the senate bin will contain pro-
vision for the creation of transpor-
tation board which will take over the
administrative functions of the inter
state commerce commission and leave
the commission the rate-making pow
ers which 1t now has. The house bill
in its present form does not contain
any provision for the creation of a
transportation board, and a 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. rhe bill provides that the
interstate commerce commission shall
prescribe rates that will yield 81 per
cent on the aggregate property value
of railroads in given rate-making
group. TO this may be added onehalf
of ] per cent for unproductive inn
provements. Should any road earn
It's property the excess earning would
be divided equally between the car
rier earning the money and a contin-
gent fund in the transportation board.
Both bills as they viii go from the
committees to congress for cOnsidera-
ton will contain provisions designed
to prevent the transportation systems
from being tied up by a nationwide
strike. The senate committee has
voted to insert in its bill provision
making il unlawful for railroad EN-
ployees 10 strike. The house commit
tee 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 10
any extent abrfdge the authority of
the states over interstate rates and the
regulation of purely intrastate com
merce.
Both bills in their present form
contain provisions designed to stabil-
lie the rate situation during the
period Immediately following the sur
render OF federal control. There is
little doubt that the final bill will
contain a 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 bin as passed will greatly
enlarge the regulatory powers of the
government over matters relating TO
car service, terminals, pooling of facll-
tiles, etc. II transportation board Is
created those regulatory functions will
be vested In 1t; If the interstate com
merce commission remains as the sole
regulatory body, bureaus and sub
divisions will have to be created by IL
to take care of additional work.
II is practically certain that II a
transportation board Is not created
the membership of the interstate com
merce commission will be increased
bers. 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 railroad com.
mlssioners of the various states who
met in annual convention In Indian
apolis recently adopted resolution
asking that the transfer be made al
the end Of the year, and congress al
ways gives consideration TO resolu
ton with the states behind II in such
Rn expressive way. But there are
many Obstacles In the way of dIspos
ing of the railroad legislation between
now and January /.
To Extend Vocational Training.
Further extension of the educa
tional activities Of the federal gov
eminent Is provided by congresslona
legislation now nearing the finish
Ing stages. Just before the United
States entered the war congress made
provision for vocational education FOL
normal people. In cooperation will
the states. Under that legislation larg'
sums are now being spent annual,
for vocational educational work, tn
government paying one-half the ex
pense and the state. If 1t chooses q