The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-02-23
.ESCH MEASURE
IS DEFENDED
BY CUMMINS
Senate Debates Bill As
Passed BY House On
Saturday


ference report on the railroad bin
passed saturday night by the house.
By a vote OF $50 to $50. was called
up in the senRtc By Senator Cummins.
chairman OF the interstafe commerce
committee, who obtained unanimous
consent for It's immediate considora-
ton. Its speedy adoption was pre-
dicted.
Presenting the conference report
senaioT cummina emphasized that
the ride guarantee section did not
take dollar out OF the public treas
ury.
In order 20 preissslcc Il among the
people u has been termed a guaranty
Of income" he said. This is not true.
There is guaranty In the bill os tho
standard return and against deficits
continuing for six months after tho
railways are returned 10 their own
crs; but rs hecessitv Is obvious.
Guarantee Provision.
lie said the bill merely directed tho
interstate commerce commission that
In 50 far as was practicable II should
make rates that would Yield me- op-
Grating income Of \ per cent upon
the true value OF the railway prop
eriy." The Income would depend
wholly upon location Of tho roads. the
Iowa senator pointed out. asserting
that sotre roads would earn nos more
than two per cent
with respect 10 the labor provis-
Ions of the conference report" sonn-
tor cummina added. II am utterly
unable TO understand the opposition
which they have aroused among labor
leaders, for they leave all free men.
whether employe or employers 20 do
whatsoever they please at any time.
at any place or under any elreum-
senator cummins said that $500
esnenditure by the railroad adminis-
To PAY Rack DcrIrit.
We are nov appropriatlnE $780,
600. 000 more" he kaid. "and before
the close OF the present fiscal year.
we will be compelled 10 make another
appropriation of not less than $780,
0Oo. goo: IN all. 81 $50 900 ,O0o. OF
this vast sum. II Il expected the raii-
roads will during the next decade pay
10 the government OF the advances 20
made sums which In the aggregate
will reduce the governments exDendi-
lures to something like sS50.000.o00
and this will represent the loss con-
CURED In two YEAR, and two months
of government operation.
''The amounts have given you are
government estimates and do not In
clude claims asserted by tho railroads
and denied by the railroad admints-
tratlon."
senator Robinson. democrat, Ar
kansas one OF tho confereea and nu-
thor OF the anti-strike provision OF
"a. -. AImTn'wIInA
In conference reviewed the measure
at some length, dealing particularly
with the labor situation.
Defends labor Provision
''The labor provisions, fairly con-
Atrued do not Justify the assaults
made upon them" he said. This u
not government OF labor organiza-
tons. u must not be perverted IN
character so as 10 become the means
OF denying right OF justice 70 any
class OF law abiding citizens"
tie added that this measure be-
comes bill OF rights for labor" ana
insured the employment OF the power
OF the United States. when invoked.
to safeguard those rights.
The president u was said, waa
working on his answer to suggestions
recently made by the brOthcrhooda
for a tribunal independent OF that
provided for In the railroad bill 10
pass on disputes, the suggestion being
that the tribunal be composed OF ems
pioyorH and workers only.
Some officials inclined 20 the opin~
ion that Mr.. Wilson would again in
dicate his belief that the public also
should be represented.
labor Attacked.
Expressing disappointment that the
conferecs had eliminated the siriks
and compulsory arbitration features.
senator Myers. democrat, Montana.
declared this was necessary In order
70 get railroad legislation enacted BY
March /.
senator Myers attacked organized
labor for Its attitude toward the rails
road bill and other measures.
'Organized labor Is the greatest
menace before the country today" ha
said. Labor has gone into politics
and II you set through one out ot
three bills opposed BY GOmpsrs {
should think the country n doing
well. MIR. Gompers In some respects
Is the most powerful man in tho
United S,atea-morc powerful than
the president. The president can veto
bills, but he cant prevent their paqs@
age. Mr.. Gompcrs can"