New-York tribune., 1920-02-19
Plans Protest Against Pro.
vision i'm Final Measure
for Voluntary Adjust
ment of Disputes
Will Press Demand
For Increased Paw
House Expected to Take
Up and Pass L Legislation
at Saturdays Session


From, The Tribunee Washington Buyeon
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18.-The final
draft of the legislation to provide for
the return Of the railroads to private
ownership and operation on March 1
was reported to the Senate to-day, With
provisions written into it to prevent
labor troubles on the railroads for six
months.
The conference committee wrote into
the bill a provision continuing until
September ! scale of wages not less
than that in effect at midnight Feb
ruary 20. Instead of the drastic anti
strike provisions of the original Senate
Dill or the elaborate system of wage
boards created in the House measure to
adjust labor disputes the new bill pro-
vldes for system of mediation that is
entirely voluntary.
Heads of the railway brotherhoods
tonight expressed satisfaction with the
labor clauses Of the measure, although
they are preparing to file formal pro-
test against the section of the bill pro-
viding for the adjustment of wage dis
putes.
The assurance given in the bill that
the scale Of wages cannot be decreased
tor six months after the return of the
roads would not prevent the railroad
employees from seeking an increase,
the labor leaders declared They plan
to press their demand for an increase
a -
now being adjusted by President Will
son.
House to Take Up Bill Saturday
The bill reported to-day is COM
bination Of the Esch bill passed bv the
House Of Representatives. last Noyem-
Der and the Cummins measure passed
by the Senate in December. Features
Of both bills are retained in the final
measure, which is the fruit of six
weeks work by the conference COM
mittee.
The conference bill Will be consid-
cred by the House on Saturday. Upon
motion of Chairman Esch of the House
Committee on Interstate Commerce the
House limited debate on it to five
hours. in the hope of its passage Satur-
day night, so the bill can be sent to
the Senate for final action by the mid
die of next week
The conference bill specifies that the
roads shall be returned on March L. 1t
continues existing rates and the pres
ent scale of wages for railway employ
ees until September l, 1920. After that
date the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion, which is increased in size to
eleven members and whose powers are
greatly enlarged, shall have jurisdic-
tlOn over rates.
Labor Dispute Board Created
A voluntary system of adjudcating
wage disputes without any penalty at
tached for refusing to accept the ad-
Justments made, was written into the
bill at the last minute at the request
Of the Administration. Instead of the
drastic anti-strike provisions of the
Cummins bill, or the elaborate system
of wage adjustment boards created in
the Esch bill, the conference commit
tee measure creates a central labor dis
pute board, to which wage and other
labor disputes may be referred. It's
decisions are not binding, however.
Local boards may be formed in the dis
cretion Of the employees and the car
riers, the bill provides.
The present compensation of roads
under Federal operation is continued
for six months after March /. After
the expiration of the months period
the roads are guaranteed an earning
Of 512 per cent on the actual value Of
their property.
A revolving fund of S3OO,OO0O0O is
established for the purpose of helping
the carriers to purchase new equip
ment during the transitory period. An
additional appropriation of 5000 100000
is made to the Treasury Department
to meet deficits in Federal operation.
Provision is made for the refunding of
the carriers indebtedness to the United
States during period of ten years.
Permits Consolidation of Roads
The bill further provides that the
railroads may be reorganized into a
limited number Of competitive sys-
tens, in accordance with a plan to be
worked out by the Interstate Com
merce Commission. Voluntary consol-
idation Of roads under the approval of
the commission also is provided for.
All powers vested in the President
under the Federal control act are
terminated, except those required for
winding up the affairs of the govern
ment's period of operation of the roads.
All canal and other inland waterways
boats acquired by the government are
transferred to the War Department.
During the six months period follow
lowing the return of the roads the COM
pensation of the carriers shall be the
same as provided for in their con-
tracts with the government. The roads
Con fi,,ye1 OD 1nne fO7Lr