Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-03-06
 IS BITTER ! ! AT
 CONFERENCE
Governors and M a y 0 r S Wrangle Over Commit
 tee Report.
SECRETARY WILSON
 OVERRULES PROTEST
Suggest Government Use Railroads
 to Help Private Industry.

Washington, March 3.-Bitter con- troversy ragged in the conference of governors and mayors today before the report of the committee on reso- lutiOns, making a great variety of recommendations on public questions finall ywas adopted. Even after the viva voce vote, delegates from the West led by Mayor Rolph, of San ! Francisco, attempted to force a re- cord vote to show they dissented from the maority, but were overruled by Secretary of Labor Wilson. who presided.
 Adjournment was takjen after Mayor Rolph and GCvenro Cox. Ohio, chair man of the committee on resolutions, had risen on questions of personal privilege concerning their champion ship of opposing sides in the debate. Make Recommendations. The resolutions which Governor Cox announced were submitted un- animously after elimination of all partisan subects, condemned doe trines which inveigh against God and government. They also recommend l that the government should not only prepare for transportation nec- 1 essities of prosperity, but use the l railroads as means of helping private industry" by carrying out the pro- 1 gram of improvements.
 Expressly disclaiming aproval of fix | ing of costs, the resolutions sane toned government approval of price schedule toward establishing new 1 basis of valuts Reduction of freight 1 rates on all building material, es- pecially road material. was suggest ed. It. was declared that reduction of wages should come only as re- suit of reduced living costs. | Recommendation was made that l the federal government continue it's l "halpful offices" with the view to averting serious consequences in the financial affairs of public utilit- ies. Settlement of government con- tracts, lifting of governmental re- as soon as possible and continuation of the federal survey of natural re- sources started during the war were asked. The conference also deplor- ed discontinuances of federal employ ment agencies, and urged demobilia-
 ztion of the army by the local draft
 boards.
 The section relating to public util-
 ities was attacked vigorously by Mauor Myers, of Minneapolis, and
 others. Mayor Hoan wanted to know
 who sent the "stacks of telegrams
 which Governor Cox reported had
 reached the committee favoring the declaration. He and Mayor Myers de-
 clared the clause interfsrred With local sovereignty.
 Adfessed To Wilson.
 Mayor Baker of Portland. Ore. an
 swering for his colleagues of the com
 mittee. said the telegrams had been
 addressed to President Wilson, who sent them to the committee.
 "They come from the traction in.
 terests," shouted Mayor Hoan. "Don''
 get excited the Portland executive
 replied I've ruled that corporation
 stuff ust as you are doing and Il
 goes we'll with your constituents, but
 I advocate this section because We
 ought to have some government
 agency to help us in difficulties whicf cannot be settled locally
 Motion to strike out the clause wa:
 defeated 34 to 21
 An attempt to nave the conference endorse government ownership o railroaGs was defeated by acclama
 ton.
 ] At the morning session dissatisfac
 tion of western delegates at wha 3 they regarded as the failure of tn l conference to achieve concrete re ; suits broke forth in a storm of de ? bate during which Secretary Hous f ton who was to have spoken, left tn room.
 Am