The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-02-26
RAIL BILL PASSED
BY THE SENATE
Body Concurs in House Action by
Vote of At to II.
DEBATE ON FLOOR IS BRIEF
Measure Now Goes to the President
His Approval Is Expected-Forces
of Organized Labor Caught
Mapping by Quick Action.

Washington, Feb. 24.-The last act
of legislation required of congress to
provide for the return of the rail
roads to their owners was completed
when the senate. voting AZ TO II,
adopted the conference report on the
Cummins-Esch bill
The bill having been previously ap'
proved by the house now goes TO the
president for his signature. With
March | fixed as the date for the re
for the president to study the meas
ure, is extremely short. The vote was
as follows:
Ayes-Ball. Brandegee, Calder Cap
per Colt, Cummins, Curtis, ElkinS,
Fernald, Frelinghuysen, Hale, Jones
(WHSh). Kellogg Kenyon Keyes, Len
root, Lodge, Mclean, McNary, Nelson,
New, Page, Phipps. PoindeXter, Smoot,
Spencer Sterling Sutherland, Town
send, Wadsworth, Warren and Wat
son. Republicans, 30. Beckham,
Fletcher, Gay, Glass, Myers, Phelan,
P0merene, Ransdell, Robinson, Shields,
Smith (Ga.), Smith (Md), Underwood,
Walsh (Mont) and Williams, 10. To
tai for the BILL n.
Three Republicans Oppose Bill.
NoeS--Borah, France, Gronna, Re
publicanS. 3. Ashurst, Dial Gore,
Harris, Harrison. Johnson Is. D.,
Jones, On. NJ, King, Mcclellan, M
gent Overman Plttman, Sheppard
and Trammel, Democrats, II. Total
against the bill, II.
There was considerable speculation
INDUCED in by members of congress
interested In the legislation as to
whether or not the president will sign
It, This speculation was increased by
study Of the two elements of opposi-
ton to the measure which were devel-
Oped during the senate debate on the
conference report The chief oppoSi-
ton comes from the forces of organ
tied labor. who desire TO have gov
eminent control extended for two
years more in order that a thorough
test may he made of the policy of
reSentativeS of Southern states, who
fear that some of the short-line roads
i'm those states will fare badly at the
hands Of the highly organized trans
continental systems under the 81 per
cent guaranty provision
\ number of the Democrats in the
senate and house who opposed the
measure are already planning to bring
pressure to bear upon the president to
get him to veto the bill,
Labor Caught Mapping.
The celebrity with which Senator
Cummins. chairman of the committee.
prevailed upon the senate to act upon
the conference report caught the forces
of organized labor mapping. They
had planned to hold a series of group
meetings to discuss the presidents
proposals for wage increases and Law
out plan of action to prevent the
conference report on the railroad
ib'bNNl' ll'iil bNNpillllS Il Jaw.
Senator Cummins called up the con-
ference report Immediately after the
senate had listened to the reading of
WashingtOn's farewell address. by Sen
atOr Pomerene Of Ohio. The debate
ran throughout the day and the vote
by which the report was adopted was
taken at 6 80 p m.
Throughout the debate the proyi-
siOnS most subjected to attack and
criticism were those providing for the
~ per cent guaranty and the re-
strictions designed to prevent strikes
on the part of the railway employees.
There was also general criticism of
Samuel Gompers' and the American
Federation and of the policy of the or
ganization in seeking to prevent the
enactment Of the bill.
Senator Cummins defended the guar
Hnty provision by saying that it was
not guaranty at all, but merely ''di-
rectiOn' to the interstate commerce
commission TO adjust the rates so that
a return Of 51a per cent shall be de.
rived
Democrat Defends Bill.
Senator Robinson Dem.), Arkan-
sas, one of the conferees, said: "The
labor provisions, fairly construed, do
not justify the assaults made upon
them. This is not a government of
labor organizations. 1t must not be
perverted in character so as to be-