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Show RAILROAD LAW W1LLSEE FIGHT CONSOLIDATION, ABOLITION OF LABOR BOARD UP FOR CONSIDERATION Senator Gooding of Idaho Will Press For Action on Long and Short Haul Bill, Says Senator Watson Washington A bitter battle over four highly controversial phases of railroad legislation at the next session ses-sion of Congress is predicted by Senator Sen-ator James E. Watson, of Indiana, chairman ot the senate interstate commerce committee. The questions which will bring senators sen-ators from various sections into conflict con-flict are: 1. Compulsory railroad consolidation. consolida-tion. 2. Abolition of the railway labor board. 3. Repeal of the guarantee clause of the transportation act. 4. Repeal of the long and short haul.. While Mr. Watson said extensive hearings on these question in committee com-mittee and debate on the senate and house floors would be inevitable, he expected little real action on any ot them. He added that they would come up immediately after the tax bill is disposed of. Watson's attitude on the consolidation consoli-dation question, he indicated, would be governed largely by the decision of the interstate commerce commission commis-sion in the Nickel Plate merger case. He regards it as a test case that may lead to other voluntary mergers and obviate the necessity for legislation on the subject. In any event, Watson said he was not inclined to favor immediate compulsory com-pulsory consolidation, and prefers to let the situation simmer a while longer and give the roads time . to effect voluntary mergers. Senator Cummins, of Iowa, former chairman of the committee, is expected to press his merger bill, however. Repeal of the guaranteed return clause, demanded by (various farm groups, will unquestionably be pressed, Watson said. If the merger question can be satisfactorily settled. Watson said be expected to see the guarantee question disappear. The advocates of the Howell-Bark-ley bill having virtually abandoned the section of the measure which pro- I vided for the receivership of the railway rail-way following a strike, Watson said he anticipated action on a measure to abolish the railway labor board and some other method of mediation between be-tween railroads and their employees set up in its stead. Senator Gooding, of Idaho, will undoubtedly un-doubtedly press for action on the long and short haul bill, WTatson added. |