Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-11-18
RAILROAD BILL.
THROUGH HOUSE.
HAS WIDE SCOPE
Provides For Private Ownef
ship and Operation of
Rail Carriers

Washington, Nov. 1S.-Tke Esch
railroad bill, passed late yesterday
by the House, provides for private
ownership ana operation of rail
carriers under broad Federal super
vision. The measure, which was
passed by a vote of 203 to 159, now
goes to the Senate but will not be
taken there until the regular session
in December.
AS it stands to-day, the bill does
this:
Provides capital and insures the
financial future of the lines during
the period Immediately after private
ownership is renewed: creates ma
chinery for the voluntary Cancellation
of labor troubles; and extends Fed
eral authority over rail transporta-
ton by increasing the powers of tt c
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Federal control would end with
the month in which the bill Is en-
acted and rates continued in effect
for six months unless changed. Road
are ordered to ask the Interstat te
Commerce Commission for general
rate advances within sixty days and
Government guaranty is denied
carriers failing to do so.
Government Guarantee
AS a guaranty, the Government
agrees that the revenues of the car.
riers for the first six months of re-
newed private operation shall equal
tie standard return paid during
Federal control as rental for use of
lines; short-line railroads and express
companies would also receive this
guaranty.
Government five-year loans at six
l.. 1INN
the lines within &c months after the
end of Federal control, and to carry
out the provision s25O,O00,00O is
made available.
The funding plan for settlement OF
S715,00O,000 the roads will owe the
Government at the end of this year
provides for setoff of approximate.
" S40O ,000,0 900 the amount of TIE
Government rental. Payment of this
rnliquidated Indebtedness would be
N ten annual instalments.
No Penalty For Strikes
For settlement of labor troubles
The bill would set up machinery in
vogue before and during Federal
control for eploye and employer
voluntarily conducting negotiations
with an added provision for a second
ior appeal board to reach decisions
# the former fail No penalty is
provided against strike or lockout
aud on all boards the workers and
the rail owners would have equal
representation.
The bill would give the Interstate
Commerce Commission Jurisdiction
ot' use, control, movement, distribu-
tion and exchange of locomotiy
and cars, and supply, movement and
operation of trains. and extension or
abandonment of rail Ines.
The authority of the commission
would be extended to prescribe mini
mum as we'll as maximum rates, to
order the division of joint rates, to
reroute shipments, and limit sus-
pension of rate schedules.
The antitrust law may be set
aside by the commission to permit
the consolidation of railroads or per-
NIT them to pool earnings or equip
ment.
To insure freight movement as di-
rected by a bill of lading, a road
suffering the loss must be paid as
though it had carried the shipment.
The bill affects water carriers by
repeating part of the Panama canal
act so as to permit railroads, on ap-
proval of the commission, to own
and operate boats on the Great
Lakes and Long Island Sound. and
| gives the commission authority re
order connections being made be.
tween rail and water lines.