The Washington times., 1920-02-29
j. S. TO RETURN
ROADS TONIGHT.
Public viii Not Be Affected
When Railways Go Back
TO Owners.
tcontInued from First Psss)

CONTINUED from rlfst fsee'
took over the Job OF operating the
properties.
Furthermore. the public has
right TO expect high class. efncient
service, Hines emphasized, since the
roads have geen operating, according
10 his reports. at hish degise OF
efficiency under unfavoraoie eircum-
stances. At this time OF the year,
good weather Is In prospect and con-
ditions for favorable operation are
excellent, according 10 the railroad
director.
Hines Rersains On job
Rail Director Hines will continue
on the job here until probably MAY !
To direct the liquidation attendant on
the transfer from public 70 private
management. The railroad admins
tration proper. however. practically
went out OF existence yesterday. hun
dreds OF clerks and employees were
paid of, for the last time, as all de-
partments of the administration went
out OF existence. except the iquiaa-
ton bureau. The Officers or TINS Du-
reau today are bang moved from the
Interstate Commerce Commission
building. which the administration has
occupied for twenty-six months. 10 an
other building nearby.
Tomorrow the Interstate Commerce
Commission officials VIII begih re-
arranging their work 10 conform 10
the new authority given them under
the Cummins bill. President wilson
soon is expected TO increase the per-
sonnet OF the commission under tho
terms OF the bill.
Rail Director Hines, In addition to
directing liquidation of the rail trans
fer. will become Fuel Administrators
under an Executive order issued py
the President at the same time that
he approved the Cummins bill. Hines
will regulate and direct the snip
ment and expectation OF coal at least
until April 80, thus insuring, In so
far as possible, a fair apportionment
of the supply to the railroads, indus-
tries, domestic consumers and Tor
eign buyers.
| Union Leaders In Conference.
Executives of the fourteen big rail-
read unions conferred here today IN
connection with the approval by the
President of the Cummins bill. which
they fought in Congress and later
/ asked the President to veto, charg-
ing that II favored the railroads as
| against the interests OF organized
labor and the public.
Il
to reply to the letter the President
sent them yesterday explaining his
course of action.
| The President suggested that the
/ rail union chiefs take advantage OF
the provisions of the Cummins bill to
gain the increased wages they have
been demanding since last spring.
His proposal was that the unions
Iagree to cooperate with the railroad
managers In the Organization of a
joint wage committee to fix new
scale of wages.
| Wage Question Provided.
| Authority to take up the wage
question is granted such joint COM
mission in the Cummins bill, The
commissions findings to be reviewed
IL necessary. by a Labor Board OF
Appeals also authorized by the bill
The President, in his letter to the
rail chiefs, pledged himself to name
this commission with dispatch.
Rail union chiefs declare 1t may
take a year before wage increases
can be agreed to and be made effec.
tive under this machinery. but they
are expected to abide by the Presi-
dents decision, The union chiefs are
expected to make an attempt to die
tate the appointment of the three
representatives of the public to be
named to the Labor Board of APP
peals.
| Express Companies Released.
| simultaneously with rellinquish-
ment of Government operation OF
railways, the express business Will
be returned to private control.
The Esch- Cummins bill provides for
legalization of the war organization
known as the American Railway Elk
press Company, which acted as agent
of the railway administration in han
ding express business under its con.
troll. The bill does not give the ex-
press company any guarantee OF
profit, as in the case of the railways
but protects it from an opueratins
deficit for the next six months.
Company officials said there Would
be no change in the methods of hhn
ding business nor in the personne
for the present.