New-York tribune., 1920-12-17
Poindexter Measure to
Prevent Rail Tie-Ups
Goes Through Without
Debate or Roll Call
Bitterly Fought by
Labor in Campaign
La Toilette, Momentarilv
Absent With Others.
Moves to Reconsider
Fron, The 7rsbune's WASHINGTON s.r.o,

FROM The Tr;bunc's WASHINGTON Bureau
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16-By sud
den and unexpected turn Of affairs in
the Senate the Poindexter anti-strike
bill was passed to-day. 1t went through
without roll call and without debate
Later Senator La Toilette moved re-
consideration, and this motion is pend
ing on the calendar.
Reconsideration may serve to block
the bill, but in any event the action
to-day serves once more to bring
sharply to the front the question
whether strikes on railroads and other
common carriers shall be forbidden
under penalty Of law Senator La Fol-
lette has day in which to press the
motion for reconsideration. However,
there Is question whether he is en-
titled to move to reconsider, as he was
out of the chamber when the vote was
taken.
1t is entirely probable that if the
Senate does finally pass the bill the
House will block it, But the quick
disposition of the measure to-day has
revealed that the sentiment for it IL
strong and that its opponents will have
to be on guard the rest of the session.
When the bill passed to-day the Senate
was dealing with bills in their order
on the calendar. The Poindexter bill
was reached and without word of dis
cussion it shot through
Many Senators Surprised
Later on many Senator'S who had
been out of their seats said they had
no intimation it would be taken up for
passage.
The Poindexter bill in effect is the
anti-strike proposition eliminated last
session from the railroad measure.
This was fought bitterly by the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, the railroad
brotherhoods and organized labor gem
orally. The issue was carried into the
campaign, and organized labor warred
on members prominent in advocacy Of
anti-strike legislation.
The bill forbids any effort to OBJ
struct or delay interstate commerce BY
Inducing or seeking to induce or per
suade any person or persons employed
by any carrier to Quit employment.
Such an offense is made felony, pun
ishable by fine up to $4,000 or i'm
prisonment not exceeding ten years, or
by both such fine and imprisonment.
If any person seeks to hinder inter
state commerce by threats or violence
against an employee of carrier the
penalties are increased TO a maximum
fine Of $4,000 or Imprisonment for tif-
teen years, or both. Also, there is q
heavy penalty provision against injury
to the property Of carriers with intent
to obstruct interstate commerce. Sec
tion imposes penalties on employees
or officials Of carriers for entering 20
any combination or agreement to hinder
trains or prevent operation of trains
or other facilities of transportation
Reported by Committee
The PoindeXter bill was reported
from the Interstate Commerce Com
mittee. The report holds that trans
istence Of modern society 1t holds
that it is the bounden duty Of Congress
to protect and preserve against attacks
of any kind all the essential agencies
and means of commerce.
"Thc right of the individual to choose
his employment. to work therein volun-
tarily, without interference or attack,
and to enjoy and to accumulate If pos
sible the wages Of his labor, is one
Of the muniments Of liberty" says The
report. THE maintenance Of such
right is essential to free government"
When the news went around the Cap
itol that the Poindexter Dill had been
passed several Senators other than
Senator La Toilette were stirred up.
One of them was Senator Hiram John
son, who is against the bill, but had
not expected it to come up.
Senator Poindexter denied the bill
represented any attack on organized
labor. He said it was designed to pro-
tect the public from transportation tie
ups and was simply in defence of the
public interest. He pointed out that
his bill, though to some extent more
drastic than the original Cummins
anti-strike provision, had the same gen
eral purpose to see that the people did
not suffer from lack Of transporta-
ton.