Evening star., 1933-04-28
RAIL BILL MESSAGE
DRAF TED BY ROPER
Document to Accompany Co.
ordinator Measure to Con-
qress Is Completed.
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From FIRST PaRel
washington, chairman of the Interstate
Commerce Committee, has already ex-
pressed himself to this end.
Witnesses likely to be heard IN that
connection include railroad presidents,
shippers, Secretary Roper and CommlS-
sioner Joseph B. Eastman OF the IN
terstate Commerce Commission. The
latter is being mentioned in ranking
circles here as the administration
choice for Federal co-ordinator.
The measure was drafted by Secre-
taries Roper and Woodin, Senator Dill
DR.. w. W. Splawn. railroad expert;
Commissioner Eastman, Representative
Bland, Democrat, Virginia, and Repre-
sentative Rayburn, chairman OF the
House Interstate Commerce Committee
Section 2 of the bill, according to
copy Of its original draft, sets out that
in order to protect and foster interstate
commerce in relation to railroad trans
portation by preventing and relieving
distractions end burdens thereon, re-
Gulting from the economic emergency
and in order to safeguard and maintain
an adequate national system OF trans
portation," the Office of Federal CO.
ordinator is created.
Section. directs the co-ordinator to
divide the railroads of the country into
three groups-Eastern, Southern and
Western. He also may make changes
in these as he may deem to be neces-
sary. Three regional co-ordinating
committees are to be created. one for
each group, consisting of five members.
Carriers TO Fix Rules.
The carriers in each group, acting
through their directorates or designated
officers, shall select the members of the
co-ordinating committees, and shall pre-
scribe the rules under which the COM
n1ittee may operate. The carriers in
making the committee selections, ac-
cording to the bill, will have vote in
proportion to its mileage lying within
the defined regions, subject to the ap-
proval of the co-ordinator.
Section stipulates that the purpose
of the bill is to encourage and pro-
mote or require action on the part of
the carriers which will avoid unneceS-
sary duplication of services and facilities
of whatsoever nature and permit the
joint use of terminals and trackage."
This section also provides for promo
ton of financial reorganization of the
capital structure Of carriers so as to re-
duce fixed charges the stability of rail-
way credit and to call for an immediate
study OF other means of improving
transportation conditions in all its forms
and for the preparation of plans.
Section is regarded in railroad cir
cles as highly important. 1t provides
that it shall be the duty Of the regional
committee on their own initiative sepa-
rately, within each group, and jointly,
where more than one group is affected,
o. I,o -,
ceding sections. so far as that action
can be voluntarily accomplished by the
carriers"
Punishment Provided.
In instances where committees are
unable to carry out such purposes by
voluntary action for reasons either
legal or otherwise, they may make a
recommendation to the Federal CO.
ordinator for a suitable action under
Q specific order against recalcitrant
carrier. Specific provision is made
authorizing the co-ordinator to enforce
such orders and they shall remain in
effect until revoked by him "or sus-
pended or set aside or modified by the
Interstate Commerce Commission
This section also specifies that the
co-ordinator may provide for the crea-
pooling arrangement"
Section directs the Federal CO.
ordinator to confer freely with the
committees and give them the benefit
of his advice and assistance" The
committees, carriers and the Interstate
Commerce Commission also are direct
ed to furnish him such information as
he may desire in investigating any
matter within the scope of his duties.
"If in any instance" the bill states,
"a committee fails to act with respect
to any matter which the co-ordinator
has brought to its attention and upon
which he is Of the opinion that it
should act. he is hereby authorized
and directed to issue and enforce such
order, giving appropriate directions to
the carriers with respect to such mat
ters as he shall find to be consistent
with the public interest
Section 7 directs the co-ordinator to
provide means whereby such central
committees as may be selected by and
represent railway labor organizations
in each of the regional groups shall
be advised of any contemplated orders
recurring changes in service or opera
ton which will affect the interest OF
employees. The co-ordinator is directed
to confer freely with committees OF or
eaniled labor before issuing such orders.
Collective Bargaining.
The bill preserves collective bargain
ing by the railway unions and declares
that it shall not be construed so as to
amend or modify in any way the rail-
way labor act or contracts entered into
under the act.
In railroad labor circles here today
discussions indicate dissatisfaction with
some phases of the bill. The ASSocia-
ton of Railway Labor Executives was
in session here today considering the
measure and will decide on its policy.
Section provides for appeals to the
Interstate Commerce Commission by
any interested parties. including car
riers. shippers and employees. Each may
petition the commission for a review
and the commission would be author
lied to suspend an order pending re-
view Express direction is given, now
ever, that if an order is suspended, ex-
pedited public hearings must be held.
The commission may affirm, vacate or
modify an order of the co-ordinator.
The full text of section 9 is as fol-
lows:
THE carriers affected by any order Of
the co-ordinator or commission made
pursuant to this act shall, so long as
such order is in effect, be, and they are
hereby relieved from the operation OF
the antitrust laws as designated in
section l of the act entitled An act
to supplement existing laws against un-
lawful restraints and monopolleS and
for other purposes approved October
Is. 1914, and of all other restraints or
by law, State or Federal,
other than such as are for the protec-
tion of the public health or safety, in
so far as may be necessary to enable
them to do anything authorized or re-
ouired by such order made pursuant to
this act; Provided, however, that MOTH
ing herein shall be construed to re-
neal. amend. suspend or modify any OF
the railway labor act or the duties and
imposed Hereunder or
through contracts entered into in ac-
cordance with the provisions OF the
said act"