The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1920-02-13
REACH AGREEMENT
ON RAILROAD BILL
SENATE AND HOUSE CONFEREES
DECIDE TO DROP ANTI
STRIKE CLAUSE
PASS LAW BEFORE MARCH I
Rate. Makinq Provisions Of Measure
Are Also Chanoed.-Compulsory
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 modl-
fying the rate-making clauses of the |
same measure. senate and house rep
resentatives yesterday reached virtual |
" a complete agreement on Legislation |
designed to meet conditions growing |
out of the roads return March l TO
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
sion of wage disputes to q federal
board appointed by the president.
Efforts will'b 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 q 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
proval. 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
representation 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
by them, but it is compulsory that in
event of disagreement that the dispute
be referred to the federal board for
settlement.
Under the agreement on the rate
making section, a return of five and
one-half per cent on the net railway
operating income is guaranteed for a
period from Is months to two years,
, after the bill becomes a law. The eX
act period will be fixed later by the
conferees. The senate bill prescribed
five-year period.
Provision is also made in the COM
, promise that With the approval of the
, interstate commerce. commission, one
, half of one per cent of the earnings
. may be given to the railroad reSpon-
sible for the earnings and used for
such unproductive improvements as
erection of terminals or elimination
: of grade crossings. Fifty per cent OF
the earnings in excess of the six per
! cent will go to the railroad producing
the excess return, while the other half
goes to ii railroad contingent fund. adj
minstered by the commission and used
for the purchase of rolling stock and
other equipment TO be rented to the
, weaker roads. to whom loans from this
, fund also may be made.
The bill. as compromised. further au
thorzes the interstate commerce com
: mission to prescribe rates which viii
yield revenue by which this fixed re
turn may be guaranteed, and after the
: termination of the period during which
this return is effective. the commission
: is authorized To agree on the percent
: age of return and fix rates accordingly
= in order 10 insure its continuation.
The eonferees also agreed. with
slight modification, on the Pondextel
l. long and short haul amendments.