New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
Labor Faces
Sure Defeat
On Rail Bill
Senate Declared Certain
to Pass the Measure in
Spite of the Threat of
Reprisal in Elections

From The Trfbune's Washington. Bureda
WASHINGTON, Feb 22-The con-
ference committees railroad bill will
be taken up by the Senate tomorrow
while the heads Of fourteen railroad
unions are meeting at labor headquar-
ters here to consider their wage griev-
ances.
Labor faces certain defeat in the
Senate despite the fact that Senators
have been notified that if they vote to
retain the labor provisions in the bill
their names will be placed with the
names Of the House members who
voted against the wishes of labor yes
te1day, in the list of the "enemies
of organized labor who will be op
posed for reelection.
Bert M. Jewell, head of the RaiIwa,
Workers Division Of the American
Federation of Labor, tonight secuted
the idea of a possible strike of the
two million railroad employees. There
will be no more threats to strike, he
said, pending President Wilson's solli-
tlon of the wage controversy.
To Take Up Wilson Proposal
The labor leaders tomorrow will
consider the Presidents proposal for a
settlement of the wage demands of rail
road employees and will indorse the
action taken yesterday by the chiefs
OF the four railroad brotherho oods who
sent letter to the President demand.
ing he veto the labor section of the
railroad bill.
Organized labor fought the bill In
the House with all it's power, even tc
the extent of having Samuel Gompers
President of the American Federation
of Labor, personally deliver a mani.
1esto to Congress demanding that every
member vote against the bill because
of its provisions for settling labor dis
putes. The members of Congress were
warned in the manifesto that if they
voted for the measure as it stood they
would be opposed by organized labor
for reelection. The House, however
labor provision from the bill by a vote
OF 229 TO III and then passed the meas
ure yesterday by vote of 250 to 150
The conference committee bill ere
ates labor court, with power to re-
view all wage adjustments, but withou,
power to enforce its decisions. Or
ganized labor is opposing the provision
on lue ground tnaC the review board
would delay carrying into effect any
wage adjustment made. and that it
would have power to set aside any ad-
justment.
Urge Veto on Bill
Railroad union officials are urging
the President to veto the bill
and to set in place Of the labor
board created in the measure a
! joint tribunal Of railroad employees
and executives to prepare COM
plete new set of wage schedules.
The public would not be represented
on the board proposed by labor. Three
of the nine members of the board Gre
ated in the railroad bill would be named
as representative of the public
Senator Cummins, of Iowa, chairman
of the Interstate Commerce Commit
tee of the Senate and chairman of the
conference committee that drafted the
measure, will call up the railroad bill
Immediately after the Senate has CON
cluded its Washington's Birthday OBJ
servance tomorrow.
Senator Cummins said tonight he
expects the Senate tc pass the bill
without change. He said he hoped it
would be sent to the President to-mor-
row night, but added that Senators
who are friendly to organized labor
may prolong discussion so the bill can
not be passed finally until the middle
of the week.