The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-01-03
CuMM|NS' BILL
BAD FOR PEOPLE
va|Idates $8,o0o,ooo,0oo Of
Water and Turns Railroads
! Over to Wall Street,
CONTINUED From PAGE ~

when the railroad bill was under con-
The revolving fund amendment.
presented by Senator Freylinghusen,
Of New Jersey. VIGOROUSLY loyal in his
fealty to the interests, was adopted
with scarcely any debate.
When an effort was made to de-
prive the packers of their control Of
refrigerator cars. which control en-
ables them to maintain thei grip in
the nations food supply, the Senate
side-stepped, the champions of the
amendment meekly apologized and
then withdrew the obnoxious pro-
vision.
The only ray of light in so much
that is murky and sordid is the reluct-
ance with which several senators voted
for the Cummins bill under the spur
Of the party lash and the insistent
prodding OF the Wall street lobby. It
is now generally conceded that had it
not been for the fear Of losing the
holiday recess some of the senators
who voted for the bill would have re-
sisted many Of it's more vicious fea-
lures.
A rather prevalent view was that
the bill should be sent to conference
in the hope that more acceptable
agreement might be reached. It is
improbable that If the conference
committee adheres to the bill as it
left the senate it will gain the ratifi-
cation of either house Of congress.
House Up In Arms.
Members of congress who are face
to face with reelection contests are
incensed at the leaders for foisting
upon them bill so pregnant with
disconcerting possibilities. They real
workers on the farm are almost unani-
mously opposed to any return legisla-
ton, and they realize. too, that bust
ness will be seriously disturbed when
the full import Of the Cummins bill
is finally realized. That it will seri-
ously disturb industry is admitted.
If the senate insists upon the re-
tention Of the anti-strike provision,
the conference report will face bitter
opposition when it comes back for
approval. Members Of the house
realize that they will commit harf-
kari If they vote for it. And it is
equally certain that some members
of the senate who voted to send the
bill to conference will never vote it
back unless. it is radicallyarevised and
Its disastrous provisions removed.
/ The outstanding feature Of the con-
>trov ersy is the positton of dominacy
that the railroad question, has assumed
in at1onal7 :politick 1tris the con-
census of" opinion here that this issue
will com mand supreme importance in
the presidential campaign, and politi-
cal fortunes will be made and unmade
in; it's determination.
=" With more than 5, 200, 900 members
Of organized labor and a larger num-
Der Of, members of farm organiza-
lions arrayed against return legisla-
ton, with full appreciation Of the
fact that the pending legislation, If
approved, will add imm easurab1y to
the cost of living, with the treasury
looted and the nation robbed in higher
taxes and increased consumption costs,
it is not surprising that many shrewd
politicians in both houses of congress
look askance at the prospect that
AdS Ope1cu' up UclOI0 L11cIns
Because of the dynamic potentali-
ties Of. return legislation, those who
advocate retention of the railroads
for: period Of at least two years. to
give governmental control fair
chance, have more than a fighting
chance for victory.
Congress is hearing from the coun-
try, and will continue to hear from it
in. constantly. increasing volumes of
protest. The most heartening fea-
ture of the situation is. that change
/ Of nine votes would have defeated the
Cummins. bill in the senate, while a
change Of twenty-three votes in the
house would have defeated the equally
Objectionable Esch bill.
l. With the country aroused as never
before and militantly opposed to this
gigantic steal. the congressman and
senator who votes for the conference
report will have previously made up
his mind that he is ready to retire
to private life.