Evening star., 1920-11-18
CUMM|NS OUTLINES
RAILROAD PROGRAM
win Urge Anti-Strike Pro-
visions. Which House Re-
jected Last Spring.


of the Senate interstate commerce com
mittee. today outlined program o.
legislation which he hopes to see en-
acted by Congress. 1t Includes:
T. A bill to repeal that provision o1
the act of 1918 which makes it obliga-
tory upon the Interstate Commercf
Commission to ascertain what the cos
would be Of replacing today the rights
of way of the railroads in making the
valuation of the roads
2. The anti i-strike provisions of the
transportation act, passed by the Sen
ate last session, but which the House
refused to pass.
3. The compulsory consolidation pro-
visions Of the transportation act pass:
ed by the Senate, but which also failed
In the House.
viii Press for Action.
The Iowa senator will press for ac-
tion upon the first measure at the
short session of Congress which be-
gins next month. The other two
measures. ne said, probably will have
to go over until the new Congress
meets. They will lead to considerable
discussion and ut the short session
there will be time for little beyond
the passage of the regular annual ap-
preparation bills. Also when it comes
TO the enactment of measures of pol
icy, the demand undoubtedly will be
that the newly elected Congress shall
have an opportunity to pass upon
them. There is always the chance
also. that a democratic President In
the White House may veto such meaS-
ures. passed by a republican Congress
Senator Cummins pointed out.
The Supreme Court of the United
States not long before the adjourn
,ment Of the last session of Congress
handed down a decision to the effect
, that the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. in making its valuation of the
roads must ascertain what it would
cost to obtain today the rights OF way
which the roads now have. The COM
mission has declared i ir1Dractfcable
and impossible to make sucl a valua-
ton. Senator Cummins eoacurs with
the view of the commission. y bill,
introduced by himself. repeating that
section of the law of 1919, is now
pending before his committee. "A. sim :
liar measure was introduced in the
man of the House interstate and for
0fgn commerce commission.
Believes sentfment In Growing.
Senator Cummins expressed con-
hdence in the belief that the senti-
ment in support of the antt-strfke
provision Of the transportation act as
il passed the Senate 10 growing
stronger ana stronger.
II believe that the railroad men
themselves are becoming convinced
that the anti-strike provision will be
. more effective weapon and win re-
dound to their advantage moro than
the strike" said Senator Cummins-
WINGED that under the anti-sfrfko pro
vision the government. through an
impartial and responsible tribunal.
win see to it they are given wage
that win enable them to live decently
and also that their working condi-
when / WeSf into the campaign
for denomination for tho Senate in
lowe 1 do not believe that I had
the support Of any Of tho railroad
the meaning Of the anti-strike pro-
vision which / ha1 supported in the
Sonata But after a campaign OF edu-
cation. when the election took place.
believe that a majority Of the men
supported me-"
Strike Against GovernnAnt.
Senator Cummins said. too. that II
award Of the labor board created un-
der the transportation act. II would
in reality be a strike against the gov
ernme F3a said hs did not belisye
that the great mas OF railroad mon
would approve q strike against their
sion would provide the means OF
avoiding all strikes on the railroads.
He admitted there probably would be
hard fight over this measure. how
ever, and much opposition to its
enactment
The compulsory consolidation pro-
vision, Senator Gummins believes, will
add to the efficiency and the strength
of the roads He will seek to have 1t
enacted into law also.
f~ThaPa ia anofhe- hf11 ~wAfNA g.
tend to press at the coming sessfon
and in the new Congress II neceS-
sary." said Senator Cummfns. that ID
the capper pure fabrics bin. designed
TO let the purchaser Of cloth and
really made Of. / expect to have q
hearing before the committee as soon
as i can be arranged after Congress
rr~sts"
Senator Cunmins. returning to a
dS~ussion q OF the railroads. said that
thare had been considerable discus
sion of the advisability Of repealing
the tax upon railroad transportation.
similar TO Proposed Sales Tax.
r. is tax similar in kind to the
prc rosed sales tax" he said. ''ft
pls ces tax upon the people buying
rairoad transportation" He did not
T.. should be repealed. but said that
revision Of the tax laws was one Of
the first things that must be attended
10 ~ the Congress.
Els attention was called TO the
STAT tsrsnt from, the bureau OF railway
economies today. TO tbs effect that the
net operating income for the month Of
September OF class / railroads Of the
country fell :S.s per cent short OF the
amount expected 10 be raised under
th. increased rates fixed by the Inter.
s.a!c Commerce Commission In 20.
ccrdAnce with the transportation act.
, ArGnmeaf of CaaDaagD.
senator Cumnains said that no did
no; think that any particular infer.
ercr could be drawn from the com.
pi:atiOn for ons month. particularly
M tho statement itsstf pointed out
that the roads are spending more than
usu-! now on deferred dspr cc3att0u of
cars. locomotives and other equip
meat.
: The1e IL ena thing At least that tha
statement shows" no added, and that
81 thai the charge tho goveYnmsnt
was guasantAstng the roads IN ineoma
of 61 per cent under the transports.
tion act Was not correct. That wAs
one Of tho arguments used against ma
in tho campaign, and. the farmers
waYD told that IL ths govssnment
guaranteed tho roads an inaonas ef ~
PEI osai 10 should HnAPantss the
farmers An tnSoma, too,