Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-02-18

Would s Maintain Wartime
Wages I For Railroad Men
A Until September l..
General Belief IS That Bill
Will Go to President
/ changed.

4 iT.#. 4. p. -, ~ ....;s,r.sl Il :
Washington, Feb. 1s.-Wages es-
tablished. by the railroad adrninistra-
ton during the war would continue
In effect until September under the
railroad reorganization bill. says the
conferepce report which was present
Cd today in the house and senate. ~
Under the wage provisions the re-
drafting OF which created more SUR
prise in ctngress than any other
Esch BILL Of the house and the Cum
minis bill of the senate, pay Of rail-
road workers would be stabilized at
the present levels for six months aft
er. the railroad properties are. e.9return-
ed to private control and operation.
The bill as reported today also seeks
to stabilize rates for the same time,
providing that prior to September !
no rates may be reduced unless ap-
provals Of the interstate commerce
commission Is obtained. - t3s3:g.5 s : 2 n
&. Much Interest shown.
The restriction on wage increases
was looked upon with especial inter-
est by members Of congress, railroad
omcials and union leaders in view Of
the recent demands of the more than
two million railroad workers for an
advance in pay. President Wilson, in
supporting the contention that no In
creases could be granted on the eve
Of return Of the railroads, told the
union leaders that their demands
would be considered by a commission
to be created by law II such a provi-
sion was included in the railroad bill,
or to be appointed on his own initia-
tive II no legal provision were made.
ha ho< -v4 T.
sion would be empowered to take up
their demands, the fourteen railroad
union heads have called a conference
to be held here beginning Monday to
discuss the policy to be adopted in
dealing with such a commission. TO
ascertain II the railroad executives
would agree to turning over the wage
controversy to such commission,
Director General Hines has requested
a committee of railroad officials to
confer with him here tomorrow.
Chairman Esch Of the house man
ayers. announced today that the con-
ference report would be taken up in
the house Saturday-and Chairman
Cummins Of the senate managers, ex-
poets: to call 1t up in the senate at =
later 4ate. Despite the fxpectsd opg
ppsttt0m TO the new wage section.
Repub bifcaf sxdeSysbt both the house
ands the asenaAea expressed belief tfl6t
the conference report, would : be
dent with little change = - ~ : a5if9
The Main Features.
a The outstanding points | Of the
insasure as finally agreed upon are:s,
.sEtompulsory ! submission Of labor
board appointed by the president and
composed of nine members equally
divided between the employees, em-
ployerp and the public No provision
is made for enforcing the iboatd' ssle-
cision. 5Ss 81 &.3 N.
Z Adjustment Of rates by the Inter-
state Commerce Commission SO as to
yield to carriers agretnrn offs 1-2 per
cent upon the aggregating value of
their proper with another half sof
one per-. cent for improvements. -
Distribution OF half the net railway
operating income in excess Of six per
cent cf,the property value, equally
betwe6nsthe Z carriers reserve fund
and th4Sfederal railroad contingent
fund which will be administered by
tthe commission for the assistance OF
weaker roads.
Government guarantee to railroads
against q deficit during the first six
months after the roads are turned
back. t., "a: h
| q Permissive consolidation of rail-
roads in accordance with general
consolidation plan to be prepared by
the Interstate, Commerce Commits
sion. II. s il.s 2. Il. ..s.l.5r.@..
Appropriation of $500, ,ooo. 900 to tbc
used a. revolving fund from which
to make lpanssto carriers and pay
claims growing out Of federal control.
Unexpended funds now In the rail-
vi n - n Aar@ @vrN{v 3~k. . AS-vn nS.5 -
for that purpose and
an appropriation Of $4,000 for the
federal Labor board Is provided.
81 Ilac Tabor Section.
~ finally agreed upon, the Labor
duty of ali carriers and their officers,
employees ands agents to exert; every
rensonabie effort and adopt every
available means to avoid any inter-
FtpttonI Stoa the operation OF any car
riers growing out of any dispute be-
tween the carrier ana the employees
or subordinate omciAls.'' a.
Such dispute, the bill provides,
should II possible be decided by rail-
way boards Of labor adjustment es-
tabltshed by agreement between the
carriers concerned and the employees.
No provision Is provided. however,
for their or8sniSation.
The bill directs the railway board
Of labor appeals. which would be ap-
pointed by the president with the
senAte's approval and which would
have central sofhces In Chicago to
consider and decide cases either cer-
tined to Sit by the lower boards or
tcases With the latter failed to hear.
In addstion, the federal board can
upon ne appeal boards own motion
!if IL IL tf the onfnioh' that tha f1fsnmt.