Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-17
TEST
|SURGEDF0RU US.
RAILROAD CONTROL
G0mperS, Brotherhoods and
Farmers Want Measure
Withdrawn.
APPEAL MAY BE CARRIED
TO WHITE HOUSE TODAY

Author of Proposal Intends to Lay
Request Before Full
Committee.
Protesting against enactment OF the
Cummins railroad bill, now before the
Senate. Samuel Gompers president of
the American Federation of Labor. and
representatives of the railroad brother
hoods, together with spokesman for
some farmers organizations. today
urged Chairman Cummins of the Senate
interstate commerce committee TO with
draw the measure and give government
operation of the roads A fair and thor
ough peace-time test.
The brotherhood representatives an
nounced that they planned to go to the
WHITE House during the day to urge
President Wilson to use his influence
against passage Of the bill.
Senator Cummins said he had no au-
thority TO withdraw the bill. but ex-
pressed his intention of laying the re-
quest before the full committee
Mr.. Gompers declared that organized
LABOR wanted the government to retain
control of the railroads for two years
for the purpose of testing out the best
method for their continued operation"
referring to the anti-strike provision
OF the bill, Mr.. Gompers said:
Consequences Are Grave.
Il do not know whittier we are
drifting. and on that point / am APP
with the gravest consequences IL
VIII not stop strikes. but will make
respected citizens law breakers"
The injunction against the coal
miners, Mr.. Gompers declared, did
not produce an ounce of coal.
'Injunctions cannot make men
work" he added, land it is well to
remember that if men cannot get
justice in other ways they Will stop
work, and laws which seek to pre-
vent that cannot accomplish their
purpose"
Senator Cummins replied that he
fully agreed with the statement that
people could not be made to work by
injunction.
George P. Hampton, managing drec-
tor of the Farmers National Councl.
declared that the people of the country
and even senators and representatives
did not understand the railroad bill.
The Senate, he said, was attempting to
rush it through because of the belief
that the President w1ul6 turn the roads
tension was what the farmers wanted.
| Hampton said.
"C. 8. Operation Failure
Fred J. Chamberlain, head Of thu
Washington State Grange, asserted that
federal operation of the railroads hid
failed" because men n the service were
not loyal to the government. but to i'm
terests that desired TO get back the
roads" Four-fifths of the people of the
country, he declared. We're opposed 20
rushing through the C,ummns bill"
H. E. Willis, representing the Broth
erhood of Locomotive Engineers and a
number of other speakers pleaded for
the two-year control extension and de-
feat of the Cummins measure
Congress. in attending to solve rle
railroad problem, must not enact laws
that would depreciate the value of
railway securities, whether they be
held by magnates of Wall street or
poor washerwomen," Senator Pome-
rene. democrat, Ohio, told the Senate
today, urging passage of the Cum
minis bill.
The Importance of maintaining the
stability of railway securities was
emphasized by Senator Pomerene. who
declared that the ma jority of shares
of many big transportation systems.
as shown by Interstate Commerce
Commission reports. were in the hands
of small lot holders. Ownership was
so diversified, he added, that unless
Congress enabled the roads to operate
successfully the burden would reach
out to those least able to bear il.
Calling attention to the large hold-
ings of railway stocks and bonds ..
insurance companies. Senator Pome-
vitality affect the policies OF wage
earners.
The railroads. to keep pace with
the growth of the country, must have
funds for betterments. said the ONO
senator, who wanted to know by what
system it would be possible to main
tain wages if earnings were "unduly
cut down.
sharp Opposition Voiced.
During the debate yesterday sharp
opposition to some OF the PROVISIONS
of the Cummins bill was expressed.
Senator Poindexter; republican; WASH
ington. attacked the proposal under
which the Interstate Commerce Com
mission would be authorized in spe-
cial cases to permit lower charge
for a long haul than for snort hani.
while senator Frelinghuysen. repub-
Iican. New Jersey. argued provision
should be made for assisting the
roads in financing their immediate
needs after their return. To that
end he offered an amendment to per
NIT them to borrow from n IL one gov
eminent out of a s5o0,000.O00 revolv-
ing fund.
the provision of the House Dill. ana
was opposed by Senator Cummlns.
who contended that Congress ought
TO assume that legislation soon would
he enacted which would enable the
roads to borrow from private sources
ali the money needed to meet imme-
date requirements.
Senator Underwood Defends.
The hill was defended by Senator
I-nderwood democrat, Alabama. VINO
asserted that in the main il was "a
splendid. conservative Dill, whlch ne
Relieved would meet the situation.
Senator Underwood insisted that
Coneress must legislate without de-
Law or else endanger the entire trans
mort alton system of the country.
Il do not believe 1t possible. saio
the Alabama senator. Ito return the
roads under present conditions with
ont danger to the business interests
of the country unless there is RENE
dial legislation.
tho hill would increase freight rates.
Senator Underwood declared there
wouId be an increase even if the gov
eminent held the roads.
Provision n "MilistOne."
Senator Stanley. democrat. Ken
tucky. concluding his address begun
Monday, declared the anti-strike pro-
vision tied a milestone around the
neck of the bill ana made It's en-
forcement Impossible
During the day the National Grange
made public letter sent to Senator
Cummins urging that there be no
further delay in passing the railroad
and opposing any Enar-
antee of dividends by the government.
n also was suggested that the pro-
vision for a new railroad transporta-
ton board be eliminated on the
ground that the Interstate CONF
merce Commission could and should
trative work to give force and euect
to the railroad policy to be laid down
by Congress.