The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-02-23
RAILROAD BILL
LIKELY To PASS
SENATE TODAY
Leaders Expect Speedy Enact
ment by Big Majority
MARGIN OF 80 IN HOUSE
Possibility Of Veto by President 5elng
Freely Discussed by Members
Of Congress

Washington. Feb. 22.-Final fight
on the railroad bill, ten months in
the making, VIII shift tomorrow to
the Senate, with leaders predicting
its speedy enactment by an oyerwhelm-
ing vote
The conference report, a compro-
mise whipped together from the
fundamentals Of the Cummins and
E,ch bills. f.esh from the House
with clean margin of 80 votes, Will
be laid before the Senate Immediately
after the reading of Washington's
farewell address 1t will have the
right OF way over the peace treaty
and all other measures, and while the
Senate works according to its own
fancy-it could concur with the lower
branch in half an hour or hold UP the
bill by filibustering methods until
March /, the date fixed by President
Wilson for return of the roads to pri-
vate control.
But having come through the House
the danger point in the view
of advocates OF the measure, the gen.
era lopinion among senators tonight
was that no serious opposition would
develop, and that the law under which
the roads will attempt to work out
their own salvation after the long peri
cd of federal control, would be In the
hands of the President by the middle
of the week.
AS is always the case with important
leg. Station, there was a wide discuss
ion today over the possibility OF the
wrecking of the bill by a presidential
veto. At the same time there was
conside able interest in the meeting
here tomorrow of the general commit
teemen of all the railway labor 0rganiz-
atoms to discuss the Presidents pro-
posal for settlement of wage griev-
ances. The date of the conference
had 40 direct bearing on the plan Of
Senator Cummins for calling up the
railroad bill. Organized labor made
its fight in the House, with varying
success, according to the individual
view of members for and against adopt
ion of the comp omise measure.
The statement by Representative
Kitchin, Democrat, of North Carolina,
who voted against the bill, that labor
leaders han estranged at least dozen
representatives was met by the claim
of labor leaders that the $50 votes
against the measure would not have
been polled exceut for their fight in
behalf of railway employees and the
union hosts.
Few members of the Senate or
House we're willing to go so far as to
pred ct that the bill M ght be vetoed.
In this connection statements made
during debate yesterday that failure
to enact legislation before March 1
would put half the roads In receiver
ship in three month and bring on
financial distress more serious than
any experienced in years, were on
many tongues.
The was no doubt that the big
vote cast against the bill
in the House was a surprise to Re-
publican leaders and even to many
who had preached that in
framing railway reorganization legis-
lation partisanship should not figure.
When the conference report is pre-
sented to the Senate tomorrow Sena-
tor Cummins, cha rman of the con-
ferees, will make brief statement
and urge prompt consideration. Sen
ator Robinson, Democrat. of Arkan-
sas, also conferee, will discuss it,
and unless there is an unexpected
flow of speechmaking, leaders said
tonight the vote would be swift and
certain"
The vote of the House in passing
the hiIl was oAQ to 1h0