Evening star., 1920-02-22
House ADOPTS RAIL
COMPROMISE BILL
REPORT, 249 TO $50
Reorganization Measure Is
Accepted After Debate
Lasting Four Hours.
ATTACKS MADE UPON
VARIOUS FEATURES
Demands for Vote Are Insistent
During Closing Period of Time
Allowed for Discussion.

| The conference report on the rail-
on the Esch and Cummins measures,
, was adopted by the House. 249 to $50.
last night, after four hours debate.
This action followed defeat of a
motion to recommit, by vote of 22S
| to III. There was buzz of interest
| as the. roll call began on motion of
! Chairman Esch. who was in charge of
the fight for the compromise bill.
Representatives Kitchin. democrat,
of North Carolina, in the closing ar
gument against the bill. declared that
| labor leaders had caused at least a
S>2ozen members who were opposed TO
it to rally to its support.
warning Given to House.
During the debate, in which more
than a score of representatives took
part, Chairman Esch declared that
the railroads would be handed back
to their owners on March /, regafu-
less of whether Congress enacted ies
isIation meanwhile. but he warned
the House that defeat OF the Oil a.
this stage would put half OF the ran.
roads of the country in the hanos u
receivers in three months
Representative Pou. democrat. OF
North Carolina. painted more
gloomy picture by declaring tnat tne
cial disaster in years il 1T gave up the
roads without enactment OF laws
which would give them the right to
earn a fair return.
Representative Kitchin said his op-
position was not in ~compliance 70
the demands of Mr.. Gompers. he
attacked the "insidious propaganda
which he said railway interests nad
conducted and declared the question
of government ownership was not IN
volved.
rejected" he said. I'VE have 1t from
Mr. Esch that the roads will go back
to their owners on March L..
Representatives Tilson. CONNECT
cut. and Luhring. Indiana, repuoh,
1egislation. while Representative
Johnson. republican. South Dakota,
said a vote against the bill '.is vote
for the Plumb plan" and added tnat
the railroad lobby Is no worse thaH
Labor in lighting for or against the
bill. However he voted, Johnson SAID.
member was sure OF the pontcal
Imposition Of either the rail corpora
tions or of organised iaoor.
Georgia. said the bill contained moth
ing unfair to labor. but that labor
would oppose any legislation return
ing the carriers to private operation.
0vvoses Financial Provisions.
Tn opposing the bill. Representative
Denison, republican. Illinois. said his
attitude was not an Endorsement OF
government ownership. or the Plumb
plan, but his objection was 10 the
financial provisions.
Mr.. Denison opposed fixing rate OF
return on rail Investments for two
wears, declaring 1t was "paternalism
pure and simple" He declared the
provision against reduction of wage
rates during the next six months
was a step toward socialism" He
also contended the division Of excess
earnings was unconstitutional.
|, Representative Sanders, republican.
Indiana, pointing out that the anti
strike provisions had been discarded.
said the only labor fight left now was
"fhe fieht for continued government
controi. government ownership or the
Plumb plan"
Minnesota, voicing the opposition OF
railway employees to the bill. asked
the elimination Of the labor sections.
or the substitution Of the original
House plan of voluntary mediation.
"AIl we railroad men want. said
Mr.. Carss. sis to meet with the en-
pIoyers and talk over our affairs in
ihe old way as we did before the roads
Representative Barkley. democrat.
Kentucky. a member Of the Interstate
Commerce Committee. opposing the
bill. declared that while it contained
many good provisions they were "en-
t;rely oyerbalanced by the most
vicious and insidious departure from
established principles"
Attacks Rnte-MakinE Section.
Attacking the rate-making section.
he charged that the Railway Security
Holders' Association maintained at
Washington a committee which ac-
CONTINUED on Page 4. Column 81 !.