Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-03-01
WILSON SIGNS


Wilson signed the railroad bill to-
night.
Secretary Tumulty announced the
action of the President shortly after
$50 o'clock and after it had been
assumed that Mr.. Wilson would not
act before tomorrow.
The President had not acted on
the bill when the executive offices at
the White House closed for the
night. AT that time officials said that
when the Presidents action was an
nounced it would be accompanied by
his reply to the representatives of
the railroad brotherhoods, asking
hun to establish a trlparte agency to
consider their wage demands, indie
pendent of any agency created under
the railroad bill.
Federal operation of the nations
great rail transportation systems
will cease at the time previously
fixed by the President.
At 1901 A. NJ. Monday the gov
eminent will hand over to their own
ers 100000 miles of main line rail-
roads and terminals and equipment,
valued at approximately S20.000,000,-
600. over which it's direct authority
has been extended since December
%. 1917.
The properties will go back. leav-
ing the government with deficit of
S715.5O0.000 for it's &c months of op-
Grafton. But while the deficit ap-
peared large, Federal operation has
cost the public considerably less un.
der the conditions, through rates
and taxes than would have been the
case under private CONTROL" Director
I General Hines declared in a resume
of government management.
| Mr.. Hines believed that the nation
and railroads as well gained benefits
of a lasting character from the perioc
of unified operation. In addition to
betterments which he believed had
been accomplished Mr.. Hines said
! the rail lines were in q position to
better operate their properties and
to improve facilities. His statement
also deal with the results directly OBJ
as Il unit
| In proclamation issued at the
time the bill was signed, Mr.. Wilson
vested in Walker d. Hines. director
general of railroads. virtually all
powers conferred upon the executive
by the bill. Mr.. Hines also will
continue to exercise het duties of di-
rector general which continue be-
! yond the return of the roads to pri-
vate control at midnight tomorrow
night.
| The White House also made public
the text Of the Presidents reply to a
recent request of representatives of
the railroad brotherhoods that he ap-
point commission equally of en-
/ ployers' and employees delegates to
consider wage demands made by the
brOtherhoods. 1t deals wholly with the
wage demands settlement proposals
! and does not refer directly to the
memorial later presented by the broth
| erhood heads asking that he veto the
railroad bill.
Announcement of the signing of the
| bill came after officials had become
convinced Mr.. Wilson did not intend
to act tonight although they were Ger
| tain he would not permit the measure
to become a law by the expiration Of
the ten day limit allowed for presi
Dental approval or veto Of an act of
Congress. There were indications thar
the presidents action on the bill was
delayed pending his completion Of his
reply to the brotherhood heads.
| In his letter Mr.. Wilson said the
passage of the railroad bill made Ill
/ evident that ! could not act on your
suggestions until it should have been
determined whether the bill Would
become a law or not"
1t was manifest" the letter contin-
ued that if the bill should become IL
J law the negotiations and considera-
tons of the wage matter ought to
proceed in harmony herewith.
The bill having now become a law.
the way is open for immediate action
on the wage matter in accordance
with the terms Of the bih. Section
301 Of the bill evidently c0ntemplates
that the carriers and employees should,
as suggested by you, select represen-
tatives who will thus constitute BIZ
partisan board for the purpose of at
tempting by conference to agree upon
a solution of this wage problem.
IN accordance with the assurance
gave last August and repeated in
substance in my last letter of the 1871
Continued on Page Scoi. ~