Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-02-17
Rival Acts Blended and
New Labor Provision
Written, Creating a
Federal Dispute Body.
Senators Anxious Presi-
dent Use Commission
Of Nine on Pending De-
mands of Unions.

Washington, Feb. 16-FinaI agree
ment on railroad reorganization legisla
ton was reached late today by the house
and senate confereeS, who planned IL
have the report ready for their sigma
lures Tuesday. so it could be presented
TO the house the following day.
Aside from tcvtual changes. the gen
crai features of the compromise bill
follow the lines agreed upon recently
by the conferees, with the exception Of
the labor provision. which was modified
SO as TO provide for federal appeal
board appointed by the president and
consisting of nine members equally di
vided between the employees. employers
and the public AS previously agreed
upon. the board was to have consisted
of five members
lab0r Provision ReGrafted
The new labor provision amounts Writ
ualiy to rcdrafting of the earlier
agreements and results directly, accord
ing to Senator Cummins OF Iowa, chair
man of the senate conferees, from de-
vclopments incident to the threatened
strike of maintenance of way employees.
which was called off before the men
walked ont. Senator Cummins said he
laid tho draft Of the new provision be
fore Director General Hines Sunday
and the revised section was said to con-
form in principle with the director gen
erals views.
As originally proposed five boards,
composed equally of employees and cm-
ployers. would have been established to
deal with labor disagreements and their
conclusions would have been subject Ia
The approval Of federal board. consist
ing of five members appointed by the
president with the senate's consent.
Instead. this plan was changed BY the
conferees to provide that. while adjust
ments of labor differences might be
made by representatives of the men and
the carriers in cases where a strike was
threatened which would tie up interstate
commerce. submission Of the dispute to
the federal board was made compulsory
before a cessation Of work occurred and
fhc findings Of this board would be final.
Public Must ion in Decisions.
To prevent discrimination against
the public. the conferees inserted Il
provision requiring the boards decision
to be made by majority. one Of which |
must be representative Of the public I
Was the labor provision such ono
that this board can take jurisdiction Of
the pending wage controvcrsy?" Senator
Cummins was asked
One was in mind he replied
Attention was called to the fact that
the presidents reply to the railroad /
men indicated that he might appoint 7
a separate board to deal with their
grievances.
Hope Wilson Will Use 1t.
II hope that he will not ID that but
will regard this board as we'll qualified
to take hold of the situation' Senator
cummins said. IF he docs it. it Will
cause some confusion, for it will be this
boards duties to consider the dispute.
Senator Cummns said that he md /
hartman Esch. of the house committee.
would meet tomorrow to 20 over the
final draft Of tho bill Representative
Esch announced that he would submit
the conference report to the house on
Wednesday, at which time it will also
be presented in the senate. He believes
'h. house VIII comDste action Oh the
legislation on Saturday