Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-12-18

ing to the same authority. would b re-
fected In m increased cost Of living o1
at least A,Wo 0o,oo a year. possibly
hye billions The American people can
not and should not stand such An IN
crease.
I'VE respectfully request Mr. Pres
ident. on behalf Of the farmers. the
American Federation Of Labor and the
railroad brotherhoods as well as the
general public. that you stop the ru-
mors that you plan to return the rail-
roads to private control. and that in
view Of the changed conditions and the
prevalent industrial unrest you reestab-
lish public confidence by advocating
that the period Of government opera
ton be continued for >at least two
years
During the day J. r. Howard. repre-
senting the American Farm Bureau
Federation. made public q letter which
he had sent to Senator Cummins trans
mit,ing resolutions adopted by the fed
Grafton at Chicago last month demand
ing 'the early return of the railroads
TO private control under such condi-
lions and regulations as win render
adequate service at just and equitable
rates
Mr.. Howard said the resolutions had
been adopted unanimously.
This unanimous approval" he
wrote. was from a body of active
and actual farmers holding delegate
power from more than 1000. 900 other
farmers from "a states Of the union.
The Senate tentatively accepted an
amendment by Senator Jones, Repub-
lican. Washington. designed to pre-,
vent foreign owned railroads and
ship lines from discriminating
against American carriers by cutting
their rates on shipments to points
within the United States. Senator
Jones explained that the amendment
was aimed especially at certain Ca
madam railroads over which. because
Of reduced rates. quantities Of Am
eTican goods are shipped in bond
through Canada to Pacific coast cities
Of the United States and also at
railroad owned ship lines touching
Alaskan ports.
BY a vote Of % to 20 the Senate
adopted an amendment by Senator
Frelinghuysen. Republican. New Jer-
sey, providing for a revolving fund
Of $500. 100000 from which the gov
ernment could make loans for reha-
bilitation of railroads upon their re-
turn to private ownership.
The anti-strike provisions were
considered briefly tonight but went
over until tomorrow. Senator Cum
Minis tried to secure unanimous con-
sent agreement to vote on the anti
strike clauses at noon tomorrow but
objection was made by Senator Har-
rison. Democrat, Mississippi, because
consideration Of the sugar relief bill
would be shut off.
A substitute for the anti strike
clauses was introduced by Senator
Mccormick. Republican. Illinois. and
will be considered tomorrow. His
plan is similar to the Canadian law
and would prohibit strikes or lock.
outs Of employees until s. days after
decisions by /an arbitration board.
The Mccormick plan also would re-
quire the arbitration board to dis
pose OF all controversies within 30
days.
Senator Mccormick declared that
the Cummins anti-strike provisions
were a dangerous precedent and
doomed to defeat. but Senator Cum
minis in reply said that American la
Dor leaders were more opposed to
the Canadian system than to the pro-
visions Of the pending bill.
Another substitute similar to the
Canadian plan also was introduced
by Senator Jones. Democrat, New
Mexico, and went over until tomor-
row.