El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-02-05
'STRIKE BAR 0UT.PHOEN|X INVITES
.0F NEWR. R. BILL.EL PASO RACERS

Washington, D. C.. Feb. 5.-Castine
I aside the anti-strike provision CT the
Z Cummins bill. against which labor
I has leveled protests and threats, and
! modifying the alternating clauses OF
/ the same measures, senate and house
Z representative have reached viz
] tually a complete agreement on legis-
Z latiOn designed TO meet conditions
growing out OF the return Of the
railroads on March ] to private con-
{ troll. For the anti-srrike provision
[ the committee agreed TO substitute
T what amounts to compulsory submis-
Z sion Of wage disputes t0 a federal
board appointed by the president A
number Of minor differences remain
TO be composed A final report on
the legislation is anticipated late this
week.
In agreeing on labor provisions, the
conferees struck out the clause Of the
senate bill which would virtually
make strikes Illegal by penalizil 9
railroad employees or employers for
entering into cOnspiracies for the
purpose OF interfering with interstate
commerce and provided in lieu there
OF settlement of labor disputes By
boards composed equally Of employees
and employers. The findirgs Of these
boards must be approved by a fed
eral board appointed by the president
appeals must be taken in cases in
which agreements are not reached by
the other boards
Settlement Not Compulsory.
All classes OF railroad employees.
senator Cummins said. are TO have
representation upon the lower wage
boards. Since the government will
not be represented upon these boards
the senator explained settlement Of
labor disputes cannot be made com
pulsory by them but II is compulsory
that in event OF disagreement the
dispute be referred to the federal
board for settlement
Under the agreement on the rate
making section, a return OF five and
one-half percent upon the net rail-
way operating income is guaranteed
for a period from IS months to two
years after the bin becomes a law.
Provision is also made in the com
promise that with the interstate com
merce commissions approval, one
half Of one percent Of the earnings
may be given 10 the railroad respon-
sible for the earnings and used for
such unproductive improvements as
erection or terminals or elimination
OF grade crossings. Fifty percent Of
the earnings IN excess Of the six per-
cent VIII 80 to the railroads produc-
ing the excess return. while the
other half goes TO a railroad contfn-
gent fund administered BY the COM
mission and used for the purchase Of
rolling stock and other equipment TO
be rented TO the weaker roads 10
whom loans from this fund also may
be made.
!. C. C. to Prescribe Rates.
The bill as compromised further
authorizes the interstate commerce
commission to prescribe rates which
VIII yield revenue by which this fixed
return may be guaranteed and after
the termination Of the period during
which this return is effective the
commission is authorized TO agree
upon the percentage Of return and
fix rates accordingly in order to in
sure its continuation.
Another important section agreed
upon by the conferees and which is
expected to prevent much state liti-
cation provides that the interstate
commerce commission may suspend
or change rates during the six
months period after the roads are re-
leased by the government
The conferees also agreed with
slight modification on the Poindexter
long and short haul amendment.