New-York tribune., 1920-02-13
New Rail Law
Seems Assured
Before March
Leaders of Both Branches
Predict Prompt Action on
Conference Report To Be
Made in a Few Days

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (By The Asso-
ciated Press ).-While some opposition
to the railroad bill as finally agreed
upon in conference has developed, SEN
ate and House leaders predicted o-day
that the conference report on the meas
urc would be adopted promptly, so that
the legislation would be on the statute
books before the roads are returned to
private control on March t.
The final draft of the conference re-
port is now being made and it will be
presented to the Senate Saturday or
Monday. The House expects to take up
the report Monday or Tuesday at the
latest, and leaders said to-day it would
be disposed of in two days
Chairman Esch, of the House Inter
state Commerce Committee, one of the
authors of the railroad bill, and other
leaders expressed confidence that op-
position by House Democrats would not
delay passage of the measure
Leaders Confident of Adoption
They based their prediction upon the
fact that the bill as rewritten in con-
ference is substantially the same as the
Esch biN recently passed by the House.
Senate provisions, to which there was
objection, including the anti-strike sec
tion, creation of transportation board
and compulsory consultations, were
stricken out in conference. The essen
tial addition to the House bill was the
fixing of guaranteed return of 51a
per cent.
with the time already fixed by
President Wilson for return Of the
roads and the widespread demand from
people that they DC handed back"
Chairman Esch said to-day, Failure to
enact necessary legislation before
March l would be disastrous. | am
satisfied, however, that the House will
adopt the conference report without
delay"
Chairman Cummins, Of the Senate
Interstate Commerce committee, and
one of the trainers of the bill, said
there was no doubt of the acceptance
of the conference report by the Senate
There is no opposition to the bill in
the Senate other than what was eX-
pressed when the bill originally was up
for consideration" he said. "As far
as the House is concerned, however, |
have made no effort to ascertain what
its fate there will be-"
Senator Pomerene, Democrat, of Ohio.
one of the Senate conferees, said he
was very confident the conference re-
port would be approved'
Plumb Plan League Protests
"While l have not undertaken any
canvass of the House. said Senator
Robinson, Democrat, Of Arkansas, an
other conferee, 81 am sure it will pass
that body, and I am sure large num-
Der of Democrats will vote for the re-
port"
An equally optimistic view was ex
pressed by Senator Lodge, Republican
leader.
"It most certainly will pass the Sen
ate and feel sure it also will pass the
House." he said, referring to the con-
ference report.
Senator Smoot, Republican, of Utah,
said reports that Congress would not
finally approve the bill as modified by
the conferees "were only part Of the
propaganda that has been circulated
against the bill"
Letters protesting against the con-
ference agreement were sent to-day to
all members of Congress by the Plumb
Plan League, which reiterated it's ad-
vocacy of retention of the carriers by
the government for at least two years.