Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-06
RAIL PROBLEM
WORR|ESG O.P.
Failure of Congress to Legislate
Effectively Frightens
Party Chiefs
c U N NJ ms BILL A POSER
BY CLINTON W. GILBERT
stan Correspondent Of the Evening Public
Ledger

''"" 'VrTcspbnuenl OI tHe fbNtnlUE i'UDll'
Ledger
Washington, Nov. 6.-Thc railroad
issue looms large and threatening.
The Republican leaders here are
frightened by their own failure to pass
the legislation asked for by the Presi
dent several months ago, to provide for
| the return of the railroads to private
/ ownership. Fear is felt that il
the railroads arc turned back TO their
old owners at the end of December,
upon temporary legislation. Congress
viii spend the greater part Of next year
debating tho Cummins railroad bill.
The issue is as big and ms difficult as
the treaty itself.
The anti strike provision in the Cum
minis bill alone will prove the object
Of long dispute. The House of Repre-
| sentatives, which has to seek rc election
next fall not agreeing with the Senate
on this proposition.
| And if it finally yields the President
may be expected to veto tho bill, Ills
advisers in tho railroad administration
being opposed to forbidding strikes.
Administration Determined
Tho Republicans have little choice
in the matter of passing temporary leg
islation and leaving permanent lcgisla-
| tiou over till next session. for there is
every indication that the administration
is fully determined TO return the rail
roads at the announced time. Senator
/ Cummins is said not TO bc avcrsc TO
/ temporary legislation provided a suit
able beginning is made upon permanent
/ legislation before the roads arc returned
to their owners
IN 'hc way however; OF r,oN'ns aus
HhcctWe p'g!hh'nS oi nnhl 'cs'S'a' 'o"'
lt'S inc unnlsposcd OF treaty;
senator Cumnlns threatened inc otnSr
haN TO move IN" disP,a'rmch' OF the
'F""'F ny inc ra''rohd mn u h'a' ACTON
upon inc treat! dIu nor come shor,iH
but II Is doubtful whether inc hcllinil 70
can party would take inc rrSP"hS'o'litN
ior dlSpla"lng the treaty ana IcaVlnG
peace with Germany dchdlo'krd;
fallurc TO make peace VIII DC JUST
aS much TO thc dlScredlt "i INC party
as the failure to pass railroad lrGls,a =
non. inc administration IS proDapiN
taxing advantage ot TINS dllcmma III
Whlrh the ltcpuollcanS ma themselves
TO press Tor the immediate return OF th'
'''''op's' ,
:, III inc pachgIo"nG oI tuc situatI9l t,
'icS. as usual; ln' Iapor p"cs'ion. ~
rai'road Drotnerhood' nav uelliahuee
hu lncreasr oI Was'S' onlE We snop
men nave Dccn satlSncu. ana nhey onll
len'porarllN' ihrS IuNc Grn'ra''E agree,
NOV 70 press 'H',r ucn'""un AT ouce' p,'
10 arrow lhG lrts'uen' Soi,ir tlle II
Wnicn 10 rruuce 'lle toSl VI l!N'ns DC
,rL r"rr 'usISliuS ul'on "n increase N NV, wages
,mr s'"rc r ',i"M"u ,N ~ snor, ,,.,u ne "r
,,,"nuS ,,I 'ou ",sn'r ""SeS W." sum w
p'tSseI "nn hanr W Ut ''''u. .:
c,to hmnd ,mn Lo'u' ~; a,r % sun ] ~ sI '"aJ W.
au.n anus ~ aTS ,I .m,, '"e uu.,iin
that u shnmId ' nv, sou' sIoad thn nn;,.nt. at
operators of the road with charges in
, the shape of higher wages. The ques
tion OF increasing pay should go over
to the men who will have to operate the
roads. One criticism of the govern
mcut already heard is that its libcralitI
to workers has increased the cost Of
operation 50 much that the railroads
face bankruptcy unless freight rates
are again advanced. The government
, naturally does not want to afford agail
: an excuse for an increase of the cos
, Of transportation to the country.
Wage Issue Embarrassing
, ,rho i,,ro or u,o.eg % roilrooT work
\ embarrassing In tho government