The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-02-23
HOUSE APPROVES
RAILROAD BILL
100 Majority For Measure
1
Presented BY Conference. =
ESCH SOUNDS 4 U'aGa.IsG
Failure to Pass it Would Put Haif
the Railroads in Receivers Hands,
He SAYS

Washington, Feb. '@3.-The mmoz
mise EsCh-Cummins railroad blI was
approved by the house. which adopted
the conference report atger tour hona-
of debate
The vote was 80 10 100, a clear
margin of 100 votes
Just previously the house bad refuS-
ed to commit the conference report on
the bill, the motion by Representative
BarkIey, Democrat, Kentucky, being
defeated, 22S to I'll. Chairman ESch,
of the Interstate commerce committee.
in charge of the fight on he floor, them
called for the previous question and
there was n tuzz in the chamber as
the voting began.
There never was any doubt as to the
outcome, leaders said, although he eff
feet of pressure from labor leaders,
against adoption of the bill was vart-
ously interpreted Eepre<en- -ative
Kitchin, Democrat. Of North ca ,lina,
in he closing argument against the
bill, declared that labor leaders had
caused at least dozen members who
were opposed 10 it to rally 10 It's sup,
port.
During the debate in which more.
than Il score of representatives took
part, Chairman Esch declared hat the
railroads would be handed back to
their owners ON March 1, reEardless
of whether congress enacted legiSla-
ton meanwhile, but he warned the.
house thai defeat Of the bin at this
stage would put half the railroads Of
the country in the hands Of receivers.
in three months.
Representative Pou. Democrat, OF
North Carolina, painted Il more gloomy.
picture by declaring that lie country.
would see the greatest financial disas-i
ter in years if it gave up the roads.
without enactment of laws which
give them the right to earn a fair re-
turn.
Representative Kitchin said his ops
position was not in compliance to. the,
demands of Mr. GomperS' He az
tackled the 'insidious propaganda,
which he said railway interests had
conducted, and declared the questias
of government ownership was not IN
eole2d.----.--sa-----------.s-z---- .s-z-----.-----s.:j -
whether this report is adopted 81
rejected" he said, 1--WE have it from
Mr.. Esch that the roads will go back
to their owners ON March l."
Representative TiIson, Connecticut,
and Luhring, Indiana, Republicans,
praised the measure as good legisla-
ton, while Representative Johnson.
Republican, South Dakota, said: 4
vote against the bill is a vote for the
Plumb plan,' and added that the rail
road lobby is no worse than that of
the American Federation of Labor" in
fighting for or against the bin. How
ever he voted, Johnson said, mem
Der was sure of the political opposition
of either the rail corporations or of
organized labor.
The vote for the adoption Of the
conference report showed 2U5 Republic
cans and 40 Democrats supporting it,
The opposing vote included 125 Demo-
Gratis. % Republicans, one Independent
and one Prohibitionist.
Railroad administration estimates
place tie net cost . the government
of federal control OF the railroads at
$636OO0,0OO, Chairman Esch, of the
Interstate commerce committee told
the house in opening debate on the
conference report on the compromise
railroad bill.
"This S636,OOO,OO0 will have TO be
charged off as Il war loss" lie said.
"One may say it was expensive, but
it was really worth the price. without
the railroads, transportation would
have failed to supply our troops over
seas"
Total appropriations @. approXi-
mateIy $1.90oO)0000 inclutin- those
already made. were The experience of
federal control, Mr. EScA said, but he
added that of these amounts approx
mateIy 81. .2J0 100000 were investments
in the form of improvements made for
the roads and for which they ulti-
mately will pay.