Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-18
r. r. REORGANIZATION
Continued irons rsase |,

DIsH1D1tAOn Of hall Of tho net railway
operating income in cxncss II gig per cent
| Of the property value, equally bet w,cn
| The carriers reserve fund and the T,dcral
| Railroad Contingent Fund which will fc
administered by the commission for tn.
aasistancc of weaker roAds.
Government guarantees N rAilSoais
| Against deficit during the first SIX months
| after the roads arr turned bsck.
| Pcrulissiye consolidation NJ railroads in
accordance with general consolidation
plan 10 bc prepared by tho Interstate
| Commerce Commission.
Appropriation Of 500, ,OOO, 900 ~ he
| used ~ revolving funds from which To
make loay to carriers and pny claims
growing out Of Federal control.
Unexpcpdcd funds nov in the railroad
administration hands arc olso rrappro-
priated for TINT purpose and an appro-
priation Of $50, 900 for the Federal Labor
Board - provided.
LABOR DISPUTES coTgJDxRED.
As finally agreed upon, the labm SC
ton provides that ut shall bc the duty
Of al carriers end their off ocrs, employees
and agents 10 exert every reasonable eff
fort and adopt every available means To
avoid any interruption 20 the operation
Of any carrier growing out Of any dispute
between the carrier and the employees or
subordinate oficials.'
Such dispute, the bill provides, should
If possible be decided by railway boards
Of labor adjustment established by agree.
ment between the carriers concerned and
the employees. No provision is provided,
however, for their organization.
The bill directs the railway board OF
labor appeals, which would be appointed
by the President with the Senate's ap-
prevail and which would have central
Officer in Chicago, to consider and decido
cases either certified to II by the lower
boards or cares which the latter failed 10
hear. In addition the Federal Board can,
upon the appeal boards own motion, IL
II 10 Of the opinion that the dispute is like
" substantially 70 interrupt commerce"
investigate conditions surrounding the
dispute and make decision. Such de-
ciston, however, under tho bill must be
concurrcd in by at least five members,
one Of whom must be Of the public group.
PATE usErsG PROVISIONS.
The rate making socsion Of the bill
stipuiafes that the Interstate Coufr1erce
Commission in establishing rates which
shall yield return equal 70 3 per cent
Of the aggregate value Of the carriers'
property, "shall give due consideration
among other things, tc the transportation
needs Of the country and the necessity
(under honest, efficient and economical
management Of existing transportation
facilItIes) Of enlsrz,ng such facilities 20
order 10 provide the people Of the United
States with adequate transportati1A.
The section further provides that
during the two years, beginning March | !,
1920. the commission shall take Al such
fair return sum equal 20 So per centurn
Of such aggregate value, but may, IN lts
discretion, add thereto a sum not exceed
ing one-haIf Of one per centurn Of such
aggregate value To make provision in whole
or in part for improvements, betterments
or equipment which, according 10 the &C.
counting system prescribed by the COM
mission. are chargeabIe tn capital ar
count
DETERMINATION or VALUES
Determination of the aggregate value
If the property of the carrier for rate
making purposes is left to the commission
with the provision that IL shall give to the
property investment account OF the car
riers, only that consideration which 1t Is
entitled 70 under the law IN establishing
values for rate-making purposes When
any carrier receives Tor any year q net
railway operating income IN excess OF SIX
per cent of the value of its property, one
half OF such excess goes To the carrier S re-
serve fund while tho rest goes to the Fed
eral Railroad Contingent Fund which Is
to be used by the commission N making
ioans TO railroads. or for the purchase OF
transportation equipment or facilities and
leasing the same to carriers.
POWER or COMMISSION vrDESED.
In order 30 enable the commission to
administer more efficiently Federal regu-
lation. the bill as agreed upon greatly
widens its powers and increases the mem-
bership from nine 10 i commissioners with
aa increase from sIo, ZOO 10 xI2 900 IN
annual salary.
The commissions increased powers IN
eIude the following:
Supervision over the ISSUANCE OF rail-
road securities, the commissions ap-
prevail being required beiore railroads can
issue stock or bonds.
Establishment OF minimum ral rates,
the commission up to this time having
had onlypower 10 establish maximum rates.
This power viii enable it 10 prevent a
Garner from conducting cut throat COM
petition.
Authority to make such Just and res
sonable direction with respect 70 car ser
vice in times Of emergency As vii best
promote the service IN the pubues IN
terest.
Authority TO compel the joint or COM
mon use of terminals; TO give direction
for preference or priority in transportation
emba-goes or movement OF traffic under
permits.
Approval of new construction or aban-
donment of railroads
Complete control over railroad opera
ton throughout the United States in
ease of war or threatened war; the bill
provides, would be centered in the COM
mission which would have powers similar
to those now exercised by the railroad
administrations.