The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-15
PROVISIONS OF BILL

= ne Dill, IN It's most pertinent features:
Provides for the restoration of the rail
roads to their private owners on the last
day of the month in which the bin is
enacted.
Provides that all rates and charges
presently in effect under government con-
troll shall be continued.
Provides that the railroads shall be
given 10 years in which to pay their
Indebtedness to the United States in
Cured during government control.
Provides that during six months fol-
lowing REIMBURSEMENT of control by the
government each railroad, at any time
under government control, shall be guar
anteed that its operating income shall
not be less than the average of its OPP
Grating income for the three correspond
ing periods of six months each during
the three years test period ending June
3d. 1917.
Provides a revolving sum. of s25o. 900 900
to be lent railroads during a period of
two years following REIMBURSEMENT of
government control
Provides for the settlement of disputes,
an adjustment board made up of one
member of each union concerned and
representatives of the employers and ex-
press companies This board is to con-
stitute panel from which will be drawn
a conference committee composed Of rep
unions concerned and the employer con-
cerned which shall inquire into any
all disputes. The findings of the con-
ference committee may be appealed to
the railroad biard of labor appeals, which
the bill creates. This appeal board con-
sists of three groups of three members
each, one group representing the unions,
other the employers and the third the
public. Decisions of the appeal board
he arrival q nn1v xryhap f1va ~ he
six members representing the unions and
the employers are agreed. Penalties are
provided for infractions of the terms con-
tained in any decision of the appeal
board. After the first appointment the
terms Of members of the appeal board
shall be six years. and each shall receive
$4,000 per annum. Headquarters shall
be established in Chicago.
Provides that in the event of car short
age, the interstate commerce commission
after investigation, may suspend all rules
regulation and practices with respect to
car service. to the end that said short
age might be eliminated.
Provides that the commission may re-
quire the joint use of terminals when
that will best serve the public need
Provides that there shall be, no ex-
tension or abandonment of lines with
out the commission is made certain that
such is necessary.
Provides that the commission may re-
duire the terminals of any carrier to be
open to the traffic Of any other carrier
at just costs.
Provides for sunifica ton, consolidation
or merger by purchase, lease stock con-
troll or in any other way, also the pooling
of traffic, earnings or facilities upon ap-
plication to the commission and its find
ing that these shall be in the interest Of
better service for reduced operating ex-
penses.
Provides for the operating of vessels
owned by rail carriers, even when such
vessels will compete with their rail own
ers, except through the Panama canal.
Provides that the interstate commerce
commission may fix not only a maxi
mum but minimum rate in order tina,
a rail carrier by inordinately reducing
its rates may not destroy water compe-
tition.
Provides that in adjustment OF conflicts
between inter and interstate rates the
commission shall permit the members Of
the state commission concerned to "sit
in with it, and participate actively in
the meeting. 1t proceeds however,
against the effort Of one state to discrin-
mate through rate making against an
other state, and to this end writes into
the bill the decision of the supreme court
in the Shreveport" case with the avowed
purpose that there shall be no other
such case.
Provides an increase In the number Of
the members of the commission from 3 to
II and an increase in the salaries of such
from $4,000 to 81, 1000 per annum.
Provides for the TRANSFER to the Secre-
tary of War for operation by the chief
of engineers of all boats, barges and
tugs which have been acquired by the
ailroad administration and which are
being operated on the Erie Barge canal
and on the lower Mississippi and Warrior
rivers