Arizona republican., 1920-02-19
RAIL WAGES GAN BE RAISED BUT NUT. LOWERED IN NEXT s MONTHS
Guarantees Against Reduc- tion of Wages and Rates Before Sept. l, 1920, Pro- vided in Revised Draft of Rail Bill
Republican A. p. Leased wire1

IT
 WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-Guarantee aSanst any reduction m wages before next September l, is given railroad workers in the revised draft of the railroad reorganization bill, reported today to the senate and house.
 Railroad corporations, which are to regain control and operation of their properties March l, are safeguarded ukeW1Se by the compromise measure aSalnSt reductions in rates and fares at the hands of state commissions prior 10 september l, the bill providing spe- officially against any rate or fare re- auction not approved by the interstate commerce commission.
 Will Stabilize Railway Industry?
 The redrafted reorganization meas ure, while not prohibiting advances either in wages or in rates, in the opin- ion of the members of the conference committee, subscribing to the majority report, will tend to stabilize conditions in the railroad industry.
 Before presentation of the confereeS' report and the redrafted measure to the house, where it first was received. the section of the bill relative to wages was interpreted as establishing the pay of railroad employees at the level ef- fectVe when the properties are re- turned This interpretation, which later was found to be erroneous, which to hurried conferences among railroad
 
 ing of labor representatives to the cap itol to ascertain the exact provision of the measure, and to the calling of a conference for tonight of officials of the If railroad unions, together with Samuel GomperS and Frank Morrison president and secretary, respectively of the American Federation of Labor. The labor leaders, on learning that an advance in wages was not preciuded between March 1 and September l un- l~s fxvx. cod faction with the provision against any reduction of pay during the next six months
 House to Act Saturday.
 The house fixed Saturday for con- sideration of the conference report, agreeing to meet an hour earlier than customary so a final vote might be reached before adjournment
 Representative Bark1ey, democrat. of Kentuckv. a minority conferee. was given permission to file a disasreelng report
 however. were confident that it would be approved.
 Chairman Cu1nmins of the senate commerce committee, announced that the report would be taken up in the senate as soon as it was sent over rom the house.
 The section prohibiting reduction in
  1, reads:
 The Wage Clause
 s.Prior to September l, 1920, each carrier shall pay to each employe or subordinate official thereof wages or salary at a rate not less than that fixed by the decision of any agency, or railway board of adjustment in con- nection herewith, established for exc outing the powers granted the presi- @1o foda control act effect in respect to such empioye or fficial immediately pre- reding 12:01 a. m. March l. 1920.
 Although making public of the exact text of the wage section removed the necessity for tonight's conference of all union officials, the entire draIt oI the revised measure was considered at an informal conference The union heads, in advance Of a thorough digest of the measures provisions, declined to comment. Creation of a permanent federal ar bitration board, composed of nine mem bers divided equally among employees, employers and the public and appointed by the president, which the revised bill proposes, was considered by many rail- road experts as simplifying solution of wage problems to be dealt with after return of the roads. Submission Of d disputes to the board is compulsory. PTeS1deut WifSoii, III tSpiy iH5 " tic demands of the more than 2,O00,000 | workers for increased wages, offered submission of the pay request to such a board if provided by law or to a l commission which he promised to i create if no legal provision was made. | The attitude of the railroad executive l toward such a solution of the pending | wage problem will be one of the prin | -ipal subjects to be discussed at a | here tomorrow between Di- rector General Hines a.nd representa- | tiyes of the railroad executives.
 -O-