The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-02-19
RAIL ROAD RATES
AND WAGES STAY
UNTIL sept. 1ST
Il ',o..,. e sso,s.s,a;Eqder Bill Agreed tc
W Conference
!. ADVANCE NOT FORBIDDEN
Bill Which Has Been Before Confer.
ence for Several Weeks to Be
Considered Soon

Washington, Feb. 1S-Guarantee
against any reduction in wages be-
ore next September g given ra /
read workers in the rev sed draft
Of the abroad reorganization bill
reported today to the Senate and
House.
Railroad corporations VIII ch are to
regain control and operation of their
propert es March /, are safeguarded
likewise by the compromise measure
aga INST reductions n ates and fares
at the hands of state comm ssioners
prior to September /. the bill pro.
viding spec fically against any rate
or fare reduction not approved by
the interstate commerce commission,
the federal regulatory body.
The re-drafted REQ ganization
measure, while not prob biting ad-
vances either wages or in rates
in the opinion of the members Of
the conference comm ttee subscrib.
ing to the majority report thus will
tend to stabilize cond tions in the
railroad industry in, so far as the
con 'erees deemed advisable.
Befo presentat on of the conferees'
report and the redrafted measure to
the House, where 1t first was received,
the section of the bill relat We to wages
was interpreted as establishing the pay
OF ra lroad employees at the level effec-
tive when the properties are returned
This inte probation, VIII 'ch later was
found to be erroneous. led to hurried
conferences among railroad labor lead.
ers in Washington, despatching Of
labor representatives to the cap tol to
ascertain the exact provision of the
measure. and to the calling of d con-
ference for tonight.
The sect on prohibit 'ng feduction in
wages under penalty before Septem-
Der l. reads:
Prior OF September /, 1920, each car
rier shall pay to each employe or sub.
ordinate official thereof wages or sal.
AIRY at rate not less than that fixed
by the dec 8 on of an agency or all
way board OF adju tment n connection
herewith, established for executing
the powers granted the President un-
der the federal control act, IN effect IN
respect to such employe or subordinate
off cial Immediately preceding 1901
4. M March /, 1920"
Although making public Of the text
of the wage sect on removed the
necessity for tonight's conference of
AL union officials, the emit draft OF
the revived measure was considered
at an informal conference.
Croat on of permanent federal
arbitration board, composed OF niue
members divided equally among en-
ployes, employers and the public and
appointed by the President, VIII oh
the revised b'll proposes. was coasid-
cred by many abroad experts as
lens to be dealt with after return of
lle railroads
The House fixed SATURDAY. for con.
sideration of the conference reLort,
agreeing to meet an hour earlier
than Gu toma y 50 nal vote might
be reached before adjournment.
Representative Barkley II minor ty
conferee, was given permission TO
file disagreeing report. He served
not ce That an effyft wou.i De made
10 Geud the bill back to oonfe care
under Instructions elimnl srur
OF 'hc p DIVISIONS. Supporter of the
repolt however, were confident tha;
the report would BE- approved
Cha rman SUNNI MS of the Senate
commerce commission, announced
that the report would be TAKEN up
IN the Senate as soon as IT was scnt
over from the House.