Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-02-23
RAILROAD BILL
WILL BECOME LAW

WILL BECOME LAW
Passaos by Big vets In House Pro-
sasss Adoption BY ssnats-laboTs
Attitude Said 70 Have Made Votes
Ter Conference Report - House
olvss 100 Majority.
Washington. Feb. 2s.-with its
supporters predicting = speedy en-
actment. the compromise railroad bill
a. passed In the house Saturday by
q substantial majority today was
given the right OF way In the senate.
Despite statements that union la
Dor forces would carry the fight into
the senate, leaders expressed the be-
lief there would be little debate.
Coincident with senate considera-
ton Of railroad legislation the gen.
erai committee of railway organixa-
tions assembled today to discuss
President Wilson's proposal for dis
posal Of pending wage claims.
Adoption Of the conference report
in the house came after the house
had defeated. 22S TO III. . motion to
recommit. Chairman Each. OF the
interstate commerce commission. In
charge Of the fight on tho floor.
then called for the previous ques-
ton and there was q buxx In tho
chamber q the voting began.
There navsr was any doubt 40 to
the outcome. leaders said. altho the
effect Of pressure from labor leaders
against adoption OF the bin was va
riously Interpreted. Representative
Kitchin. democrat North Carolina.
In the closing argument against the
bill. declared that labor leaders had
caused at least q dozen members
who were opposed TO II 70 rally to
Its support
The conference report on the bin
was called UP In the senate by SON.
ator Cummins. who obtained unani-
mous consent for immediate consid-
Grafton. It's speedy adoption was
predicted.
Presenting the conference report,
Senator Cummins emphasized the
rate guarantee section did not take
= dollar out of tho public treasury.
"ln order to prejudice II among
people II has been termed a Euaran-
tee Of INCOME" he said. This 10 not
true. There Is . guarantee in tho
bill Of standard return and against
deficits. continuing for six months
after the railways are returned TO
the owners, but It's necessity Is OBJ
vious.
The rate making section is not q
guarantee. Not q dollar 10 to be
paid from the treasury on account
OF its provisions"
He said tho bill merely directed the
Interstate commerce commission that
insofar ~ II was practicable II
should make rates that would yield a
net income Of 5h per cent on the
"turn value Of tho railway property"
The income would depend wholly
upon location OF the roads. assorted
the Iowa senator. saying that some
roads would earn not moro than 2lt
per cent.
TO call II guarantee 10 to be stu
pidly false or ignorant" he declared.
Discussing the anti-strike provision
upon which tho senate conferees
yielded. the senator said "they yield
cd simply to supreme necessity. ano
that . bill had to be passed by March
J or chaos would ensue."
With respect to the labor provi :
sions," Senator Cummlns added, "I
am utterly unable TO understand op-
position which they have aroused
among labor leaders. for they leave
al free to do Whatever they please
% any time. at any place ana under
any circumstances
Senator Cammins said $i.250.0 .0O0,-
veV had been appropriated for eX-
psnditure oy the railroad administra-
ton.
We are now appropriating $oOU.-
o0g,OVv more" no said, and before
the close OF the iiscal year We Will
be compelled to make another ap-
propriAtion Of not lexs lnan $780,
DvV.yvo. OF this vast sum Il u ex-
DsCted tho roads wall. during tna
next year pay TO the government
aums which In the axEreSats repre-
cent 3t60. ZOO, 900. and this wiii repre-
cent the loss incurred in two years
and two months OF government
operations"
Senator Robinsom. ono of the con-
fssesA reviewed the measure. dealing
particularly with the labor situation.