Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1920-02-28
RAIL BILL PASSED
BY THE SENATE
Body ConcurS in House Action by
Vote of At to II.
DEBATE ON FLOOR IS BRIEF
Measure Now Goes to the President
His Approval is Expected-Forces
of Organized Labor Caught
Mapping by Quick Action.

L
of legislation required of congress TO
provide for the return of the rail-
roads TO their owners was completed
when the senate, voting Al to II,
adopted the conference report on the
Cummins- Esch bill.
The bill having been previously ap-
proved by the house now goes 10 the
president for his signature. With
March / fixed as the date for the re
turn of the roads, the time allowed
for the president to. study the meas
ure, is extremely short. The vote was
as follows:
Ayes-Ball, Brandegee, Calder Cap
per, Colt, Cummins, Curtis, Elkins,
Fernald, Frelnghuysen, Hale, Jones
(Wash.), Kellogg, Kenyon Reyes, Len
root. Lodge, Mclean. McNary, Nelson,
New, Page, Phipps, Poindexter, Smoot,
Spencer, Sterling, Sutherland, Town
send. Wadsworth, Warren and Wat
son, Republicans, 80. Beckham,
Fletcher. Gay. Glass. Myers, Phelan,
POmerene, Ransdell, Robinson, Shields,
Smith (Ga.). Smith (Md), Underwood,
Walsh (Mont.) and Williams, Is. To-
tai for the bill, A.
Three Repur iicans Oppose Bill.
Noes-Borah, France. Gronna, Re
puhlicanS. ,. Ashurst Dial, Gore,
Harris. Harrison. johnson Is. D.,
Jones, IN NJ, King Mcclellan, Nu-
gent, Oyerman. Pittman, Sheppard
ana Trammel. Democrats, "A. Total
against the bill. II.
There was considerable speculation
INDUCED in by members Of congress
interested in the legislation as 10
whether or not the president will sign
1t, This speculation was increased by
study of the two elements of opposi-
ton to the measure which were devel-
Oped during the senate debate on the
conference report. The chief opposi-
ton comes from the forces of organ
ized labor who desire to have gov
eminent control extended for two
years more in order that thorough
test may he made of the policy of
public ownership. and from the rep
reSentatiyes of Southern states. who
fear that some of the shOrt-line roads
in those states viii fare badly at the
hands Of the highly organized trans
continental systems under the 5l5 per
cent guaranty provision.
\ number of the Democrats in the
senate and house who opposed the
measure are already planning To bring
pressure to bear upon the president to
get him TO veto the bill
Labor Caught Mapping.
The celebrity with which Senator
Cummins. chairman of the committee,
prevailed upon the senate 10 act upon
the conference report caught the forces
of organized labor napoing. They
had planned to hold a series Of group
meetings to discuss the presidents
proposals for wage increases and lay
out plan Of action to prevent the
conference report on the railroad
measure from becoming a law.
Senator Cummns called up the con-
IPIeHCe TeI1oTI lHtlleUlaIelY aTtpF the
senate had listened to the reading of
Washington's farewell address, by SEN
ator Pomerene of Ohio. The debate
ran throughout the day and the vote
by which the report was adopted was
taken at 6 80 p. m.
Throughout the debate the provi-
sions most subjected to attack and
criticism were those providing for the
So per cent guaranty and the re-
strictions designed 70 prevent strikes
on the part of the railway employees.
There was also general criticism Of
Samuel GompcrS' and the American
Federation and of the policy of the or
gani2ation in seeking TO prevent the
enactment of the bill.
Senator Cummins defended the guer-
anty provision by saying that 1t was
not a guaranty at all. but merely "di-
rcction" To the interstate commerce
commission to adjust the rates so that
return of 512 per ccnt shall be de-
rived.
Democrat Defends Bill.
S,,,,t,r Dolipron Jnor, H.