The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-10-22
CONGRESS FAILS TO TAKE ACTION
 ON RAILROADS
Bemoan Situation While Republicans
 Sit Idle

Washington, D. C., Oct. P. - The Isars of Congress are now beginning to ring with insistent demands from various phases of business and labor interests from all sections of the country that something be done about the railroads and be done quickly. Five months have elapsed since Presid nt Wilson convened Congress in extra session to pass the legislation needed for America q many reconstruction problems, the Republican majority so far has writ ten failure to enact'' opposite each item on the long list.
 Railway legislation is about in this condition: The Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce is practically ready to report the revised Cummina bill, but nothing will be done with it until the opponents of the Peace Treaty and League of Nations tire Of obstruction and agree to vote on the question of ratification. The House committee on interstate and foreign commerce Is still awaiting the report of the sub committee of five on the Esch bill at this writing, so there Is a slim chance of the House pass ing the measure before they yearned for adjournment on November 10.
 The Esch House bill does not pro- eide for a new plan of railroading, but rather the amending of the pres ent laws to facilitate the return ot the properties and then their regula- ton by the Governn ent.
 The Cumming bill as 1t will be reported by the full Senate commit tee will represent the views of prob ably 14 of the IT members, and will r591 -C from the original draft, many pro- visions of which caused proTacted debates throughout the country.
 As at present drawn the Cummins bill will, entirely change the method of rate making heretofore in vogue. Rates are now evolved upon the indi- yidual articles carried, such as a busheI of wheat, a ton of pig iron etc.
 The Senate bIu will provide for an adjustment of rates based upon what constitutes a reasonable return on the property investment of the diff ferent roads.
 The question of what q return road should be permitted to make is another important point, naturally. Under the present system a railway can make as much as it pIeases, ClECuIlSEdlCeS as drawn shows a modification of the original Cummins idea that aroused the criticism of former Justice Charles Evans Hughes recently. It is planned to allow the railroad per cent. on its investment, to receive one-half Of the earning from $ to per cent, and one-quarter of the earnings above ' per cent. The bal ance of the excess earnings is to be turned over to a board of transpor- tation as capital for loans to the rail- roads for extensions, rolling stock rehabilitation, etc.
 The revised Cunn1ins bill will pen aItze interference with interstate conerce. This is he provision that aroused such determined opposition among Iabor leaders who maintained the right to strike. The principles of this important point are the same as in the original bill, but it Is consid- crabIy modified in detail.
 One of the numerous boards pro- rosed to be created for the handling of railroad problems will have con trol of the wage question, and so will naturally be burdened with many of the responsibilities of the labor problem.
 The board of transportation will have many duties in addition to act ing as a sort of Intermediary banker for railroads needing financial assist ance- To 1t Is assigned the important duty of returning the railroads to their private owners, and to arrange for their maintenance and operation in the interval that must ensue until the Federal Government and the companies have settled taeir ac- counts. roads secured financial assist ance In large sums from the Govern mert for rehabilitation through fed eral operation, and at a time when their credit was exhausted, in most instances, and their needs were great
 Many of the properties had been permitted to run to seed before Uncle Sam took control
 With the radical differences al- ready In sight in the railroad bills to be reported to the Senate and House, 1t can be readily seen that the chances of both houses passing their respective measures and then agreeing on a compromise to be en- acted into law-au before January 1-are vague indeed.