The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-12-23
CUMMINS BILL PASSES
AFTER LONG STRUGGLE
Senate Proposes That Railroads Be
Returned to Owners at End OF
Next Month.

NeXt NlCntA.
Washington, Dec. 20.-The Cum
Minis bill paving the way for return
of the railroads to private operations
passed the senate late toGdy by a
vote of 46 to 80, ending a prolonged
discussion of the measure and making
the holiday recess of congress posi-
ole. 1t went through without change
in the anti-strike and other import
ant provisions around which the SEN
ate measures was drawn land was
sent to conference for adjustment
during the recess with the Esch bill,
passed by the house November IT.
Final enactment of the permanent
railroad reorganization legislation is
hoped for by leaders early next
month.
The ultimate disposition of the
railroad problem still is in doubt as
the senate and house bills will be IN
conference and congress in recess
until January /, the date previously
set by President Wilson for return
of the lines.
No word regarding the PRESIDENT
intentions reached congress before
adjournment over the holidays.
Unless vetoed by the president, the
rerding legislation, according to plans
OF congressional leaders, would re-
cuire return of the roads by January
81. The railroad administration.
however, has plans ready for then
return January l, under president
ial proclamation should Mr.. Wilson
adhere to his announced program.
Preceding the final vote the senate
rejected, IS to II, substitute Dill
offered by Senator LaFolette, Repub-
lican, Wisconsin, proposing reten-
ton of the roads another two years
Three Republicans, Gronna, LaFol.
cite and Norris, and eight Democrats
Ashurst, Chamberlain, Henderson
johnson, Kendrick, Nugent, Idaho
Sheppard, Texas, and Walsh, Mon
tana, voted for the plan.
The Cummins bill was supported
by 33 Republicans and 13 Democrats
and opposed by eight Republicans
and % Democrats.
When the house was informed that
the senate had passed the Cummlns:
bill Representative Esch, chairman OF
the interstate commerce committee.
who will head the house conferees
said that the labor sections OF the
two bills were so radically different
that it seemed absolutely certain
that the conferees would have to
later ask the house for instruction.
This made unnecessary vote OF
the house to bind it's conferees to
the plans of voluntary mediation OF
labor disputes proposed by the house
bill.
Representative Gardner, Texas
Democratic whip, said he favored
test in the house on the senate labor
section which includes the anti
strike provision. =,
Both senate and house bills pro-
posed private ownership and opera
.,uu OF .ne railroads unuer sGrlcL gov
ernment supervision, but differ
! cally in other respects tina nen
labor provisions. The sena 81
would transfer the roads at M.
of the last of the month in whlc-- e
, legislation is enacted; the house bill
would return them similarly it enact.
ment should come before the 18th OF
the month, otherwise at the end OF
80 days. -,
! Conferences to harmonic the two
bills will begin next Monday, but
, while a long struggle is expected dur.
! ing the recess period, an agreement
soon after congress reconvenes
/ January S is the conferees' aim. :,
The senate vote today was the cul-
mination of the debate begun
j December 2 and which has held the
senate in session nightly for the last
week. Senator LaFollette wound up
the debate in four hour address In
behalf Of his substitute.
Attack on the Cummins bill IN the
senate centered largely on the anti
strike clause, penalizing lockouts OF
strikes of employees. All efforts to
eliminate or modify it were defeated
1t now must run the gauntlet OF con
ference with predictions general OF a
compromise with the house plan OF
voluntary mediation without prohlbl,,
ting strikes. Also to be harmonlzed
are the senate and house plans fo1
labor bodies to deal with disputes
over wages and working conditions.