The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24
VETO Of RAIL BILL
IS HOPE OF UNIONS
Brotherhoods Confident Presi-
dent Will NuIIify Cummins
Bill for Return.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

CONTINUED from First Page.)
enced by the advice Of Rail Director
Hines. whose attitude toward IL is
more or less OF a mystery. Both Cd
ponents and friends of the measure
claim his support.
Expect Hiaes' Aid.
In Louisville recently Hines made
a speech In defense of Government
control. The Plumb Plan League had
this speech printed and mailed TO
thousands OF persons, as they re-
sarded II as an argument for con.
tinuation OF Federal control OF the
roads. Then at recent meeting at
tended by Congressman and union
men Hines was accused OF being the
author or the labor sections OF the
measure. Hines denied this next day
In a letter which was put into the
Congressional Record.
On the other hand, notification was
sent TO all railroads through Hines
yesterday that the roads would go
BACK to private control March /. and
friends of the bill took this to mean
mat the President would sign thu
Dill. Hines sent this notice two
hours before the Senate voted on the
conference report.
"uy oSerru1e Veto.
What would follow a veto is uncer-
tain. 1t Is generally believed that not
enough votes could be mustered IN
the House 10 pass the bill over thu
veto. But the Senate apparently
would override II. The vote there
yesterday was AZ to II. Thus Con
gress as a whole would be unable to
force the legislation through over the
Presidents mo-" and there would be
no code OF regulation when the lines
so back to their owners March /.
Friends of the bill say this would
mean bankruptcy for many roads
Union representatives say the only
solution would be continuation Of
Federal control.
One OF the principal objections the
President probably will take into
consideration in deciding whether to
veto the bill is its guarantee to the
roads Of 81 per cent net operating
income. Some Congressman consider
this provision unconstitutional. Pc
titions have been received from
farmers Directing to IT.
May Regain Labor.
It Is pointed out. also. that by a
veto the President might regain for
the Administration the friendliness
Of those labor leaders who were an
tagonized by the Governments coal
strike injunction. One man high in
railroad labor councils today declared
that the President, by vetoing the
measure. has "chance to write q
new declaration of independence"
Labor Men Here.
Several hundred railroad union Of
ficials are here today to direct wage
negotiations with President Wilson
Most OF them arrived yesterday and
Sunday, although more are expected
today. Union heads do not know the
exact number expected. Each OF the
fourteen big rail unions is repre-
sented by local officials representing
alb parts Of the country.
Conferences will continue all today
officials expected. The conferences
were sectional. Officials Of each
union met in executive session to pass
on the negotiations with the Presi.
dent and devise new plans.
A general conference Of all the
I unions was to be called as soon Al
the sectional meetings were finished
Chief executives of the unions ex-
pected this general conference would
occur today. It's first action is ex-
pected to be the sending of a letter
to the President asking him to veto
the railroad bill.