The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-02
Cummins Introduces Measure
Written by Subcommittee.
Provides Private Ownership
Under U. S. Guidance.
EXTENDS BENEFITS TO LABOR
Profit Sharing and Voice in
Operation Included.
Roads Would Be Combined Into
Not Over 35 Systems.

Washington, Sept. Private own
ership and operation of the railroads
under strict government supervision.
with labor sharing, in management
and earnings, is provided in a bill in
troduced today by Senator Cummins,
chairman of the senate interstate
commerce committee.
Strikes and lockouts are made
criminal offenses by the bill and elab-
crate provisions for participation of
employees in fixing wages and working
conditions are made.
A joint committee on wages and
working conditions, on which both
sides are equally represented, is Gre
ated.
sweeping powers over the roads is
provided. The interstate commerce
commission would be given complete
authority over issue of stocks and
bonds and determination of fair re-
turn.
The roads would be returned the
last day of the month in which the
bill becomes a law.
Result of Weeks of Work.
The Cummins bill is the result of
weeks of conferences between rail-
way officials. financiers and labor
leaders with a special subcommittee
OF the senate. The bill is recon-
mended by the subcommittee to the
senate interstate commerce committee
which, besides Mr.. Cummins, included
Senators Kellogg, Minnesota, and
Poindexter. Washington. Republicans,
and Pomerene, Ohio, and Robinson,
Arkansas, Democrats.
While many ideas in the Plumb
plan are incorporated in modified
form, the bill also embodies ideas of
railroad executives and financiers.
The anti-strike provisions aroused
labor will accept this, even with the
recognition it gets in management of
the roads will be the paramount ques-
ton in congress.
Provisions of Bill.
The bill also provides for:
Ultimate reorganization of the
roads into twenty to thirty-five com
petitive systems
Employees and public each to have
two members on boards of directors.
Excess earnings to be used, one
half for purchase of equipment by the
railway board, to be leased to roads.
and the other half to be administered
by employees advisory council for
establishing a system of profit shar-
ing for employees. Improvement of
working conditions, invention of safety
devices, technical education of en-
ployes. and to supplement employers
pensions and insurance.
The railway board would have broad
powers in rerouting traffic. compelling
joint use of terminals and suggesting
Improvements in service generally.
The Anti-Strike Clause.
In a statement today, Senator Cum
minis explained the anti-strike section
in detail
This section imposes a penalty of
fine or imprisonment. or both, upon
any carrier or any officer of any car
rier who refuses to obey the decision
ing conditions) after it has been ap-
proved by the board (railway trans
portation board)." he stated.
TT also provides that If two or more
persons enter into any combination or
agreement which substantially hinders.
restrains or prevents the movement of
commodities or persons in interstate
commerce. such persons so combining
and agreeing shall be deemed guilty of
a conspiracy and shall be punished by
fine not exceeding $500 or by i'm
| prisonment not exceeding six months,
or by both fine and imprisonment;
provided, that nothing herein shall be
| taken to deny any Individual the right
] to quit his employment for any reason.
! 1t will be observed that this section
applies equally to the officers or
| managers of railway companies and
| their employees. The intent is to pre-
vent any substantial interruption in
transportation and the effect of It is
to forbid not only what is commonly
| known as a lockout. bnt also what is
| commonly known as a strike of sthe
! employees of a railway company. It
| must be remembered that the bill, in
| forbidding a strike, or combination for
a strike, has also provided for the
settlement of all disputes by govern
ment tribunal"
Loans as Per Cent Bonds.
The bill specified that money ed-
vanced by the government to railroads
! during the period of federal control
| lfsnntinued on Pnun Trrn-1