Show RAilROAD L LAW LAIN I I. I WILL SEE fiGHT FICHT 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 A bitter battle over four four- highly controversial phases of railroad legislation at nt the next session session ses sese sion slon of Congress Is predicted by Senator Senator Sen Sen- ator James E E. Watson Vatson of Indiana chairman of the senate interstate I commerce committee I The questions which will bring senators senators senators sen sen- I from various sections into conflict con con- i filet are 1 Compulsory railroad consolida consolida- tion Uon II 2 Abolition of the railway labor board 3 Repeal of the guarantee clause of ot the transportation act 4 1 Repeal of the long and short haul While Mr Watson said extensive hearings on these question in committee committee com com- committee and debate on the senate and amI house floors would b bo be inevitable he ho expected little real action on any ot of them He added that they would c come come me up immediately after the tax bill is disposed of Watsons Watson's attitude on the consolidation consoli consoli- consolidation dation question he lie indicated would be bo governed largely largel by the decision of the interstate commerce commission commission commis commis- I sion slon in the Nickel Plate merger case He regards it as ns a test caS case that may lead to other voluntary mergers and obviate the lie necessity for legislation on the subject In any event Watson Vatson said he was not inclined to favor Immediate compulsory compulsory com corn consolidation and prefers to let lot 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 r arious farm groups groups will unquestionably be pressed Watson Vatson said If the merger question can cnn be ho satisfactorily settled Watson Vatson said be expected to see the guarantee question disappear The advocates advocates' of the Howell Bark loy ley bill having virtually abandoned the section of bf the measure which provided provided provided pro pro- vided for the receivership of the railway railway rail rail- wa way following g a strike Watson Vatson said he anticipated action on a measure to abolish the railway labor board and some other method of mediation between between between be be- tween railroads and their employees set Bet up in Its stead Senator Gooding of Idaho will undoubtedly undoubtedly undoubtedly un un- un- un press for action on the long and short haul bill Watson added I |