The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-02-13
REACH AGREEMENT
ON RAILROAD BILL
SENATE AND HOUSE coNFEREEs
DECIDE TO DROP ANTI
STRIKE CLAUSE
PASS LAW BEFORE MARCH
ate-Making Provisions of Measure
Are Also Changed.-Compulso
Arbitration of Labor Troubles
Is Provided for

Washington, Feb. 5.-Casting aside
the anti-strike provision of the Cum
Minis bill. against which labor has lev
eled protests and threats, and modi
flying the rate-making clauses of the
same measure, senate and house rep
resentatives yesterday reached virtual
ly complete agreement on Legislation
designed to meet conditions growing
out of the roads return March l tt
private control.
For the anti-strike provision the
joint conference committee of the two
houses agreed to substitute what in
effect amounts to compulsory submits
board appointed by the president.
Efforts will be made TO expedite con-
sideration of the report in both houses,
in order to insure the bills passage be-
fore March 1.
Reaching of an agreement on the
Esch bill, passed by the house, and the
Cummins bill. enacted by the senate,
broke a deadlock that has existed sew
eral weeks, due principally to the
house conferees' refusal to accept the
anti-strike provision of the latter
measure. House members also have
opposed the senate ratemaking section.
In agreeing on labor provisions the
conferees struck out the clause of the
senate bill which would virtually make
strikes Illegal by penalizing railroad
employees and employers for entering
into conspiracies for the purpose of
interfering with interstate commerce,
and provided in lieu there of settle
ment of labor disputes by boards COM
posed equally of employees and EN-
ployers. The findings of these boards
must be approved by federal board,
probably of five members, appointed
by the president. with the senate's APP
prevail, to which appeals must be
taken in cases where agreements are
not reached by the other boards.
All classes of railroad employees.
Senator Cummins said, are to have
on the lower wage
boards Since the movement will not
be represented on these boards, the
senator explained, settlement of labor
disputes cannot be made compulsory
)y them, but it is compulsory that in
event of disagreement that the dispute
De referred to the federal board for
settlement.
Under the agreement on the rate
making section, return of five and
,ne-half per cent on the net railway
,perating income is guaranteed for a
,eriod from IS months to two years,
Ifter the bill becomes law. The eX-
ct period will be fixed later by the
onferees. The senate bill prescribed
five-year period.
Provision is also made in the COM
romise that with the approval of the
alf Of one per cent of the earnings |
nav be given TO the railroad reSpon- |
ible for the earnings and used for |
UGH reproductive improvements as
rection of terminals or elimination
f grade crossings. Fifty per cent of |
he earnings in EXCESS of the six per
ent will go TO the railroad producing |
ne excess return, while the other half |
oes to a railroad contingent fund, adj
by the commission and used
On the purchase of rolling stock and
Their equipment, to be rented to the
-eaker roads, to whom loans from this
md also may be made.
The bill, as compromised. further au-
loriZes the interstate commerce CON-
Iission 70 prescribe rates which will
ield revenue by which this fixed re-
i'm may be guaranteed. and after the
.rmination of the period during which
lis return is effective, the commission
authorized to agree on the percent
ye of return and fix rates accordingly,
order to insure its continuation.
The conferees also agreed, with a
light modification, on the Poindexter
ng and short haul amendments. +