The sun., 1919-08-06
ACTION.IN SENATE
ON WAGES DISPUTE.



situation of the Railroad Administration
and invited the railroad men TO give any
suggestions they cared TO have incor-
pcrated in the bill he planned TO present
to Congress. .4.
The Interstate Commerce COMMITTEES
Intends to give careful consideration ID
the recommendations of the President
and do not predict the committees ac-
ton. But I say II IL unfair to Congress
to issue n statement to the country that
the situation cannot be dealt with by the
Railroad Administration till additional
legislation Is enacted. The Presiden,
has the absolute power through the Di-
rector General to fix wages OF all rail-
road employees. The Government Is the
employer. 1t can hire or discharge any
employees 1t can determine what esoi
employee shan receive. There can he
no d. ubt regarding that power, because
u is given to the President and Director,
General by the act of March 81, 1913
respecting Federal control"
senator Lenroot (Wis.) asked: 'srhe
senator speaks OF the Presidents power
rs IL not more than power? Does moi
the duty devoive on the President al
well as the power7" q
1T is impossible for me to conceive
power without duty" replied Senator
b.
oue.,,or -,
. -
senator Overman IN. CO. observed
that the Congress had taken from the
President the right to initiate rstes
That u the very misappreherisi
that has been created" said Senator
Cummins. We have not taken tina,
power from HIM We have not taken
from him any power Whatsoever" .
- Senator Cummins referred to the bill
passed to authorize the Interstate Com
merce Commission TO suspend rates, but
said this has not yet become the law
The bill had been INSTRUCTED, he charged
by the Railroad Administration itself in
the House OF Representatives, and no,
till yesterday was the bill reported Il
the House. o..
u still insist we. must pass q law
whereby the Interstate Commerce Com.
mission shall have power, II It believes
II necessary, to suspend rates made by
the Director General" Senator Chmniins
resumed. "But the authority as well m
duty OF initiating rates which may be.
come necessary to meet increased cos
of transportation rests with the Direc.
tor-General. and will rest with him after
the bill to which have referred becomes
law"
Replying to a question by Senator
Fletcher (F1a-) Mr.. Cummins said the
increase of rates by the Railroad Ad.
ministration has been in some instance,
much more than rs per cent; in some
cases 100 per cent. In rare cases stil
more. =
Senator .Pomerene said that according
to testimony. before the Senate com.
mittee the rates on coarse gradess OF
a.. =
Increased 80 to go per cent. and there
was testimony as 10 certain articles
from New Orleans northyard on which
rates were Increased 200 per cent.
Senator Curnr,ins said n better under.
standing OF the effect of the increase,
In rate. couId ba had b,, reference tr
tbe results on the increases
.-rhe oneratine revenues Of all road,
under the Government for 1917" SAID
the Senator were in round number,
81 100 400 200 The gross revenue 10 tht
roads In C,overnnent control for 1915
vera a ,tttJa more than "a aoo ooo Ono
Tha yo,ur,e ~ trsffic was sI,ght,v iea,
~ Ia1e th,r In 1917 II "a fair "a de.
drce that the reased rates oneratins
co. s,,hs,. rt;aii, seven ana nns-hai,
nonr,bs ~ tha nresent vsar have re.
s,,Itad In a, ircrea 40 IN vross revenu.
- ssoo non ooo IL ,hav had been n
efroct ,he entire YEAR IN sim,la,
yolrr,a ~ trafic the increase would
have svsrsvated an added revenue OF
wore tbsn a Ioo ooo o00"
Senator Ks,iogr CMinn1 said the
oneratjng expenses had Increased $500.
increase In income. Mr.. Cummins re.
piled tnat eitner througn nisher "ases
increased cost OF suppress iheIncIencs
IN oper etion, OF l'e me- eaeo VI vic nun,
per OF eIhp,oyees, 'le 1peIS'ils re,enu,
u .ne 1919 unu' $4,000 'iae
sho~h aenen u SSSV,Voo,voy'
.hs nnn.rts r',h NC :, ,i r arao
.ne eohsu INC eusi IN
eeehs 1u.uS IN every o-ase hau no
cai . tof .ne ih"A'ihuih a'iount per
i"t.,eu ~ aw. 81. NJ,
Ar, Nsllli , saio ne ala nov knoN
an? VIZ % ia'ioSu So'Ii
:" m'. eoinpe H Wa, was IKE
~ iesS .hah .ne ihaAiiiiuri. me com
p Ga 80 r -, man" ny as e was eAeessiVe
ne. nc nag ussu on 'he senate mat
rn1s e mer1 pe.iet eoo o o pie
80 60 .e,. "V tt 80 tnES'Vvo.oVs pe'
s 100 '"~'i '"eS snouiu ha'e peei
NJ. >y.. -. 49,,
nensat,nn 20 the r.iIroaS o,.r,ars III III,
80 - - 1872 nc.
p "v e 1855. ue oenoN n'
ir,,,,,. 80. o,'iS a On On. aa max
nant n''s,,. "ou a az. ga PEI
Ss. on al 70 s'o1n'
,.t-aN. 1..sns o"u nc thoushe TN
d,v,dsnS =, ..aS 90 Sase ior
N''u -" eNesS VI 90 per cent
MUST Fay Dehcit Anyway.
Senator Kellogg said the compensa
ton to roads had nothing TO do wifi