The spectator., 1919-11-14
SENATE AND HOUSE WILL. PASS CUMMlNS 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. HoRNADAY.

''' "coNt iSdus to taNhiC tlC cdN problem. In due time the senate will pass bill which will bear the name of Senator Cummins of Iowa, chair man of the committee on interstate commerce, and the house will pass bill which will bear the name of Rep resentative Esch of Wisconsin, chair nam 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- fiai differences which will have to be ironed out in conference.
 1t seems reasonably certain now that the principal difference will he that the senate bill will contain q pro- vision for the creation of a transpor- tation board which will take over the administrative functions of the inter- state commerce commission and leave the commission the rate-making pow CTS which if now has. The house bill in it's present form does not contain any provision for the creation of q transportation board. and q majority of the members of the house commit tee on interstate and foreign com mefce have expressed themselves in favor of conferring 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. The bill provides that tine interstate commerce commission shall prescribe rates that will yield 51a per cent on the aggregate property value of railroads in q given rate-makinS group. To this may be added one-half of 1 per cent for unproductive i'm proyemcnts. Should any road earn more than G per cent on the value of it's property the excess earning would he divided equally between the car rier earning the money and contin- gent fund in the transportation board.
 Both Provide Against Strikes.
 , Both bills as they will go from the committees to congress for considera- tion win contain provisions designed 10 prevent tive transportation systems from being tied up by nationwide strike. The senate committee has voted to insert in it's bill a provision making it unlawful for railroad en- ployees to strike. The house commit tee has gone only so far as to provide for the creation of tribunal which would have the final word in disputes between the employer and the em- pioyee. One of the matters still in controversy is as to whether legiSla- tion shall be attempted which will to any extent abridge the authority of the states over intraState rates and the regulation of purely intrastate com merce.
 Both bills in their present form contain provisions designed to stabil- rize the rate situation during the period immediately following the sur render of federal control There is little doubt that the final bill will contain provision that existing rates Interstate and ntrastate--shall re- main in effect until changed by either the interstate commerce commission or tue state commissions.
 The final bill as passed will greatly enlarge the regulatory powers of the government over matters relating to car service. terminals, pooling Of tacl- ities, etc. If a transportation board is created those regulatory functions will be vested in it; if the interstate com merce commission remains as the sole regulatory body, bureaus and sub- e divisions will have to be created by 1t to take care of additional work
 It is practically certain that if d transpOrtation board is not created tho membership of the interstate com 'rcrce commission will be increased
 nine to eleven or thirteen mem-
 <. Congress is confronted with a
 newhat widespread demand that
 e government shall surrender the
 ,iiroads to their owners at the end of his calendar year. The railroad com u,issiOners of the various states who met in annual convention in Indian. xpcsis recently adopted resolution asking that the transfer be made at the end of the year. and congress al ways gives consideration to resolu ton with the states behind it in such an expressive way. But there are many obstacles in the way of dispos ing of the railroad legislation between nOw and Jnnuary I.
 To Extend Vocational Training.
 
 tlonal activities of the federal gov ernment is provided. by congressiona Legislation now nearing the finish ing stagcs. Just before the United states entered the war congress made nrOvixion for vocational education fo, mornal people. in cooperation witl the states. Under that legislation large Iswms are now being spent annual, fer vocational educational work. tht ecxecumcnt payine Onc-half the cx