The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-02-22
ESCH-CUMM|NS RAIL
BILL APP ROVED BY
HOUSE AF TER MUCH
DEBATE WITH SAFE
N AJOR|TY Of 100


Washington. Feb. 2l.-JThe com
promise Esch.Cummins railroad bill
was approved late today by the
house, which adopted the conference
report after four hours Of debate.
The house adopted the conference
lreport by vote Of $50 10 l50. "a
CLEAN margin o. 1O0 votes
"a After four hours OF debate the
house today refused to rc.commit
the conference report on the railroad
bill and proceeded to vote on a mo.
ton for adoption Of tho conference
report.
The motion TO re-commit made by
Representative Rarkey, democrat
Kentucky, was defeated, 800 to ISL
Opposing factions Of the railroad
Reorganization bill lined UP for n
last stand in the house today. with
o final vote on the Esch-Cummins
compromise measure scheduled 10 be
cast before adjournment.
In addition To a majority of tho
democratic members lined up against
the bill, largely because Of the fl
nancial provisions, there We're mem.
hers on both sides ready to attack
the bin because of the objections
or organized labor. Several members
were dcsirous % sending the bll
back TO conference under ius,ruc.
tons 10 eliminate Objectionable pro.
visions, but the parliamentary stu.
alton was 10 be a deciding factor in
the opposition'a lineup.
Although the house met unusually
early to take up tho conference rc.
report, proceedings got or to n
slow start. Representative Gard.
democrat, Ohio. demanded Il quorum
and Representative Mann. republ-
can. Illinois, blocked Representative
Esch's request 90 dispense with for
NAL reading Of the long report. Be
,cause Of this delay there were pre-
rctions that n final roll call might
- hc ra'hr1 acr-ro or : o'clu- K
Tonight.
Railroad inistrarion estimates
place the net cost 10 the government
Of federal control of the railroads at
:t5f0000O0, Chairman Fsch OF the
Interstate commerce committee told
the house in opening debate on the
conference report on the compromise
railroad lin.
This 2G36,OOo,0OO will have to be
charged of as q war loss he said.
''One may say it was expensive. but
It was worth the price. Without
the railroads. transportation would
have failed to supply our troops
overseas
Total appropriations n approx
mately Sl,90O,OOO, 900. ,acluding those
alrendy made. were the experience
Of federal CONTROL Mr. Esch said
but ne added that Of these amounts
approximately Sl,25oo0o,OOo We're in.
vestnents, in the form Of improve
meuts made for the roads and for
which they ultimately will pay.
Lnss than a hundred members wero
in the house when it met for the Il
nal tirht on the compromise bill. I'm
the galleries We're many labor agents
ard others. While the comprom SO
b!l was being read. members began
gathering on the floor and a roll
call showed 22l present.
Defending the work Of congress in
framing the railroad legislation Mr..
Esch said there had been mo slack
ing" The conference compromise
ne said, c,Ine before the house. prac-
tlca'ly seven months afteh the com
ni'.ee began hearings Tn. compr0-
mise bill. lie asserted. was the ori.
ginal house bin except Zone subs'an.
tive proposition" by which % rate
basis Is fixed with earnings IN OK.
cass Of six per cent on railroad valu.
alton being divided between the earn
ing carrier aud the government. f5r
the latter % use for weak roads
Mr.. Esch also explained that the
compromise bin "S,eks to popeua-o
the operation Of the government
barge lines" on the Warrior and
Mississippi rivers and the Eric Car
al, and contains provisions designed
10 insure the success Of 'this new
venture"
Referring to present financial
straits" ot the carriers. Mr. Esch
said that prior to government opera
ton only 50 per cent Of the roads
earned dividends and naid interest.
During federal control l06 OF the
iIj class one roadf' did not earn Inc
terest." he said I'm 1916 the roads
lacked 100000 paying interest on
their indebtedness.
"Tifty per cent Of the roads Ia this
country would 20 into the hands Of
receivers in three months without
the government guarantee" Mr.
Esch declared. And want TO warn
you that receiverships for railroads
means receiyerships for Industrial en-
ternrises and other business"
The short lines, he said, had been
fairly and generously dealt with. ad-
ding that il they suffered. the people