The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-11-28
Rail PROBLEM.
COMING in CRISIS.
No Unity in Plans for Return
of Roads to Individual
Owners
(By HARRY 3. HUNT.)

Washington, Nov. 25.-Despite ac-
ton by the House on a bill provid-
ing conditions under which the rail-
roads shall be returned to private own
ership, no railroad legislation emerged
as law from this session Of Congress.
The railroad problem will hold the
center of the stage, to the overshadow-
ing of all else. during the coming
months. The labor phase of the rail-
road question alone will evoke weeks
Of debate and discussion in the senate.
The situations developed in the steel
and coal strikes have brought the nee
essity for some new method of hand
ling labor disputes in nationwide in
dustries home to congress in the most
emphatic manner, and it is plainly
recognized that unless the labor
clauses of the new railroad bill are
satisfactory, the whole measure may
prove but temporary makeshift.
Federal Ownership Is Not Supported.
The Plum plan," endorsed by rail-
road employees, that the roads be not
only owned by the government, but
their operation guided by employees.
has lost most of the support it origin
ally had. The house interstate COM
merce committee voiced the general
sentiment or congress on the Plum
plan" when it said in it's report:
"The provisions are so radical and
the principles so foreign to the funda-
mental principles of our government
that it is considered by our commit
tee as impossible"
The difficulties of shaping definite
policy with respect to the railroads are
aggravated by the wisely divergent
views taken by the house and senate
committees in their preliminary
bills.
The machinery for regulations, Tor
labor adjustment, for rate making,
for refunding Indebtedness and for ali
the other major problems dealt with
are not merely dissimilar-they are
fundamentally opposed.
Senate Bill Makes Striking Crime.
The senate bill specifically makes
strikes and lockouts unlawful, and
anyone participating therein subject to
fine and Imprisonment. All disputes
not settled between employers and en-
ployes direct, would be adjusted by
committees on wages and working
conditions, and by regional boards of
adjustment. The house bill provides
somewhat similar machinery for
mediating labor disputes, through
Board of Appeals and a Labor Adjust
ment Board, but does not attempt to
iuegalize the strike as a proper weap-
on of labor. Employers who break
contracts with labor are held liable
for damages, however, and similarly,
may recover damages from any or
ganization of employees which violates
a union contract.
A new administration and a new
Congress may amend and change any
policy or program that the present
congress lays down.
Although the president has an
nounced his intention, in the absence
of new railroad legislation, of turning
the roads back to private control on
Jan. 1, 1920, he will not do so. The
fact that railroad legislation has been
actively taken up by both houses
although agreement on a final bill is
vet far off-win be sufficient explana-
ton for continuing government con-
troll until a new law is worked out.
The railroad heads. themselves, do
not want the lines dumped back on
their hands without new action by
congress. Congress will have TO au-
thorize the railroad administration to
turn over some s357 900, 900 cash work
ing capital to the private interests re-
Stunning operation of the lines. and also
to dig up 1851, 1,777 900 operating de-
ficit. to make good the rentals due
to Jan. 1, 1920, before it can rid itself
oo the roads,