Omaha daily bee., 1919-12-11
CUMM|NS BILL IS
HARSHLY SCORED
BY LA Toilette
Says Measure Seeks to Vail
date "AIl the ChiCanery of
II Years of Railroad
Jugglery."

Washington, Dec. l0.-Attachng
the Cummins railroad bill as
measure especially designed to help
the roads with their return to pri-
vate ownership, Senator La Toilette.
republican, Wisconsin,, declared in
the senate today that its enactment
would Constitute the greatest stain
on legislation in the history of the
American nation"
There is nowhere in this bill one
clause in the interest of the people,
said Senator La Toilette, who
charged that the measure sought to
validate all the chicanery- of II
years of railroad jubblery" and
tasten it on the people.
Contending that government own
ership was the ultimate solution of
the railroad problem, the Wisconsin
senator declared the plan had not
been given a fair test because there
had been an organized press and
railroad attempt to discredit it. In
framing the bill to meet conditions
arising with the end of wartime
federal control, Senator La Toilette
said that "the senate interstate conf
merce committee had not given a
full hearing to the army of railway
employees, vitality concerned in the
future policy of dealing with the
great transportation systems"
Doesn't Conclude Address.
When the senate recessed tonight
Senator La Toilette had not con-
Guided his address and he will res
sumo tomorrow. There was no indi-
cation as to how much more time he
might require and leaders said they
now had no idea when the bill might
be passed.
Senator La Toilette held the floor
continuously through the session
and after he had been talking two
hours, Senator King, democrat,
Utah, went to his rescue with de-
mand for a quorum, which gave
him 20 minute breathing spell.
When the government took over
the roads, Senator La Toilette de-
NldlC tHC "uoIC oy SlCHl Wdo
honeycombed with inside graft"
Examination of every system from
the Pennsylvania down." he said,
would show that officials were fl
nancially interested in supply and
construction companies with which
fthe company employing them dealt.
"And as result of this we find
he concluded, that stockholders
and the public were robbed because
of the payment of outrageous prices
for supplies. The country must ex-
pect to get bad service from any
concern infested with graft, and that
is one explanation for the condition
of the railroads at the time the gov
eminent took them over"
Railroad Head Speaks.
While Senator La Toilette was as
sailing the Cumlnins bill, Robert S.
Lovett, president of the Union Pa
cifc system, in statement sent to
members OF congress declared thu:
measure "had the merit at least OF
recognizing the facts of the railroad
situation and the courage OF Crap
ping with them ~-in an honest at
tempt to solve the problem"
Judge Lovett described what he
considered as the good and bad fea-
lures Of the Cummins and the Esch
bills, declaring that the most amaz-
| ing" provision of the Esch measure
as amended by the house dealt witt,
labor.
1T ehectually perpetuates every
wage increase and every working
rule or regulation made by the rail-
road administration during the stress
of war and abnormal conditions re-
| sultinp therefrnm.n he said.