The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-02-22
COMPROMISE ON ESCH-CUMMINS
RAILROAD BILL IS APPROVED
IN HOUSE BY VOTE OF ESQ TO $50
Notwithstanding Pressure By
Labor Unions Outcome Never
Was in Doubt, Leaders Say
REPUBLICAN AYES 204
Opposition Included 125 Demo
Gratis, % Republicans, an Inde-
pendent and a PrOhibitiOnist

Washington Feb. 21.-The compro-
MISE Esch- Cummins' railroad bill was
-ru~oved this afternoon bv the house
which adopted the conference report
after four hours debate. by a vote of
go tn $50. The vote was taken after
.",. house refused 22S to III to recon-
MI.
There never was any doubt as to
-ss outcome of the railroad bill, lead
81, said. although the effect of pres
sur. from labor leaders against it
Was variously interpreted. Repre-
sentative Kitchen. democrat of North
Carolina. in closing argument against
.-e bill, said labor leaders had caused
a. least a. dozen members who opposed
il 20 rally TO its support.
Vote for adoption of the conference
-anort showed 204 republicans and 45
democrats supporting it. Opposing
vote included 125 democrats, % re-
publican, 1 independent and / prohi-
b!tionist.
Railroad administration estimates
mace the net cost to the government
Of federal control of the railroads at
S53G000. 900 chairman Esch, of the in
tarstate commerce committee told the
house today in opening debate on the
conference report on the compromise
railroad bill
This 1886 Oo0, 900 will have to be
charged off as a war loss he said.
one may say it was expensive. but
II was worth the price. Without the
airoads. transportation would have
.
Total appropriations of approx
mate,y $1,000 100000 including those
already made were the "exDerience of
federal control Mr.. Esch said, but
81 added that of these amounts ap-
r-oximately 1880 900 were in
res,merts." in the form of improve
ueots made for the roads and for
which they ultimately will pay.
Less than a hundred members were
IN ,he house when it met for the final
.ght on the compromise bill. In the
galleries were MANY labor agents and
4 @5ers While the compromise bill
78s being read, members began gath
e-.ng on the floor and a roll call
Slowed 221 present.
Raferring to present financial
tanning tho railroad legislation. Mr..
q Esch said there had been mo slack
ing" The conference compromise. he
sad. came before the house today
y practically seven months after the
committee began hearings. The COM
Promise bill, he asserted, was the orig
4 ina. house bill except "one substan-
tive proposition" by which a raoe
4 basis Is fixed with earnings in excess
4 os e Per cent on railroad valuation
4 ta0g divided between the earning
earr}ers ami the government for the
la:'or to Use for weak roads.
Mr.. Es-h also explained that the
compromise bill. seeks to perpetuate
me operation Of the government barge
ines on the Warrior and Missis-
slpDi rivers and the Erie canal and
contains provisions designed to insure
.2e success of this new venture
ReserriH gto present. financial
S72tts.' of the carriers. Mr.. Esch said
nor to government operation only
9er cent. of the roads earned divi-
as-ds and paid interest.
During federal control 1OS of the
5 class one roads did not earn in
srest." he added IN 1916 the roads
-t'A >iN-N nlIloN uOlldIS bl DdS 4ilS
Interest," ON their indebtedness.
Fifty per cent. of the roads in this
country would go into the hands of
-7'a.y~rs in three months without the
soFeTnment guarantee Mr., Esch
,seared. and I want to warn you
C@- seceiverships for railroads means
'7oe.verships for industrial enter
HSss and other business
The short lines. he said had been
'.F and generously dealt with. ad-
as raag if they suffered the people
.E served and trunk lines would sut-
#* of the three hundred mil
MAJ dollar revolving fund We're ex
seq and the chairman brought a
fa- 10y announcing that provisions
d9,,' passes for railroad lawyers,
'S and others stood as hereto