New Mexico state record., 1919-12-26
RAILROAD LEGISLATION

The bill, however, was not acted up
on in the Senate which proceeded
to pass its own bill, known as the
Cummins bill
The two bills differ very materially
IN many important points and no
one can foresee what the result OF the
conference will be. The Esch bill
IS more along the line OF present
railroad regulation, while the Cum
mins bill contains a number OF no.
yelties that may not work out in
practice. Among other things II pro-
yides for a transportation board,
three regional board for adjusting a
labor matters, and a committee to
which appeal may be taken from
the regional boards
The following summary OF tn Cum
mns bill give some idea uf the main
features Of the bill:
Operation -- Private, under govern
ment regulation.
Federal incorporatiun--Com pulsOry.
Competition - Consolidation into
twenty or thiriy-fiye competing com
panies to be encouraged, after seven
years to be compulsory. All as direct
ed by the federal tran sportation board
and approved by the interstate com
merce commission.
eeurities-Exclusive control. both
IS to volume and purpose, by federal
transportation board
Valuation - Interstate commerce
commission
Rate districts-Crcation Of groups
for fixing tariffs suitable for each
district.
Rate making-lnterstat commerce
omm ssion directed to permit rates
allowing aggregate earnings OF com
bined roads in each group of 81
per cent on aggregate value of all
property in such group tregardless of
what any Individual road may earn;
no guarantee TO any plus one-half
of per cent for Improvements. In
five year periods interstate commerce
commission can increase or lower 81
per cent basis.
Rate increases - Continuance of
present rates until changed by in
terState commerce commissions ap-
proval OF new schedules.
Present standard re-
turns TO be guaranteed for SIX months.
Reserve funds Individual reserve
for each road for i's own rr"5''
General cont nge0' fund created by
prosperCUe road, for credit of an
road, Administered p. federal Trans.
oor a'f7u hoar1
taHa.rr Etf.U.f.n .I rHai' drhf
70 fht government "a. frH se.r. af
) rrr oarf
FHu0 .os. Great ..r,. rretnr.f
board o.. adjustment JrHrh hra.nr
three c0falii.. uf auolpv,r.
iul .f-a. Hf employ - 20 decide 40
lisnn+ce other than WAGES and work.
.rr conditions; anpcal fo committc of
waves and working conditions hic
latter committee tfour representatives
IF mplovcrS and four of cmplovcsn
to hear appeals from regional boards
decisions. and also hear All waco and
working conditions controversies ap-
peal TO federal transportation board
Decisions OF transportation board are
final; strikes and lockouts illegal
Federal bodies-Interstate commerce
commission to fix rates and valua-
ton approve consultations, pres
cribe accounting regulations, and eN-
'rcise other quaSi-jud oial activities.
Federal transportation board-Fye
members appointed by the president:
! To prepare consolidation plan.
2, Study transportation needs and
FAC lities.
). Study credit needs
4 Recommend policies 20 congress.
5. Provide for redistribution Of traf.
tic, joint use Of facilities, etc.
8. Supervise issue OF securities and
supervise employment OF proceeds. q
I Serve as official court in labor {
controversies
9. Make transportation information ,
available.
9 Administer various railroad legis-
lative acts
10 Represent the public interest ia
transportation dev lopment 1
The following is q summary Of the 10
esoh bill passed by the House. 4
Operat t.on-Private under govern II
nent regulation {
Federal incorporatIon-Opposed i
Competition - Consolidation and (
)oolinV Of facilities permitted 20 ex- {
.ent approved by interstate commerce !.
,omm-s sion. {
Securities-ENclusivt control both I
IS TO volume and purpose. by in
erstate commerce commission v
ValuatIon-By interstate commerce I
4
Rate districfs-None cr ated
Rate making--Rule practically un- r
hanged from present il
Rate eaSes-Conti1uarce Of Il
'resent rates until changed bv IN II
erstate commerce commissions ap- v
'roval OF new schedule. increase il
nusf be asked within six'v days after ts
eturn q roads e.
Guarantee-Prese standard return o
o be guaranteed for six months Z,
Reserve fund-Governrren 10 Gre nj
tc &50oc0oo0 revolving fund Tor II
we years loans to road. in iirs m
go years of private operation. in
Funding Ext nsion Of same f4c
uotfng rental owed bv rover1men-A a.
Dr. fifteen years az s per cent. cl
ErnplOye Three boards of adjust IS
lent lpersonnel equal btween re- e
resen.atives OF employers and er1 m
loves' T. decide s1l co7-roversies OF
ithin he thr-e ssificsfion % m
nploves Crairr1en shoDmen am III
J Others boz nien1bersi1iB 70 b. tn
,spec'ivelv for rcDres entire eact If
q. sip Ter-sse eT-ing each side. fo-r- 70
'-7~esen-Tuc sach z;Sel W..
Three comm sions - iabn- de drl
ifes lite~-ise s~'-o-es o. te7- sp
'2's ro ier r'r'7-lr7 against s-rik
foctoufs oo