The Washington herald., 1919-11-17
RAIL PROBLEM
COMING CRISIS
Workers Demands May Be
Fatal to Any Program
OF Control.
By HARRY b. HUNT.

Despite action by the House on T.
bill providing conditions under
which the railroads shall be return
ed to private ownership, no railroad
legislation will emerge as law from
this session Of Congress.
The railroad problem will hold
the center of the stage. to the over
shadowing of all else. during the
coming months. The labor phase
Of the railroad question alone will
evoke weeks Of debate and discus
sion In the Senate. The situations
developed In the steel and coal
for some new method Of handling
labor disputes In nationwide indus
tries home to Congress in the most
emphatic manner, and II is plainly
recognised that unless the labor
clauses OF the new railroad bill are
satisfactory. the whole measure
may prove but temporary make
shift.
FEDERAL OWNERSHIP
Is NOT SUPPORTED
The Plumb plan" endorsed by
railroad employees, that the roads
ment. but their operation guided
by employees. has lost most of the
support II originally had. The
House Interstate Commerce Com
mittee voiced the general sentiment
of Congress on the Plumb plan"
when 1t said in its report:
The provisions are so radicaI
and the principles so foreign to the
fundamental principles of our gov
ernment that it is considered by
our committee as impossible
The diniculties Of shaping
definite policy with respect to the
railroads are aggravated by the
wisely divergent views taken by
the House and Senate committees
in their preliminary bills.
The machinery for regulations.
for 1abor adjustment, for rare
making. for refunding indebtedness
and for all the other major prob
similar-they are fundamentally op-
posed.
SENATE BILL MAKES
STRIKING A CRIME.
The Senate bill specifically makes
strikes and lockouts unlawful, and
anyone participating therein sub
ject to fine and imprisonment. All
disputes not settled between en-
ployers and employees direct. would
be adjusted by committees on wages
and working conditions. and by re-
gional boards of adjustment The
House bill provides somewhat simf~
lar machinery for mediating labor
disputes. through a Board of Ap-
peals and a Labor Adjustment
Board. but does not attempt to IL
legalize the strike as proper
weapon of labor. Employers who
break contpfcts with labor are held
liable for damages. however, and
similarly. may recover damages
from any organization OF employees
which violates a union contract.
A new administration and a new
Congress may amend and cnans>
any policy or Lprogram that the pre-
sent Congress lays down.
Although the President has an
nounced his intention. in the alb
sence of new railroad legislation.
vate control on Jan. 1, 1890, he will
not do SO. The fact that railroad
legislation has been actively taken
up by both Houses-although agree
ment on a final bill Is yet far Off
will be sufficient explanation for
continuing government control un-
til new law is worked out.
The railroad heads. themselves,
do not want the lines dumped. back
on their hands without new action
by Congress. Congress will have
to authorize the Railroad Admins
tration to turn over some $357,000.-
900 cash working capital to the pri-
vate interests resuming operation
OF the lines, and also to dig up
s561.777.o0o operating deficit. to
make good the rentals due to Jan.
/. 1920. before 1t can rid itself of
the roads.