Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-15
RAILWAY WORKERS SCORE
VICTORY IN CONGRESS
Voluntary Cancellation OF Labor Dis
putcs Clause Written Into
Escl Bill.
THREE PLANS ARE DEBATED
Employees on Railroads Arc Now
Divided Into Three Classes and
Tor Each Is Established an Ad-
iustment Board.
iBy Associated pre...l

WASHINGTON. Nov. 14.-Railway
workers scored a complete victory in
the House today through incorpora
ton OF their plan for voluntary con-
ciliation OF labor disputes in the Esch
railroad bill. The House rejected q
pian OF compulsory arbitration, includ-
ing an antistrike provision, and also
Inc plan written into the bill by the
mouse Interstate Commerce Committee.
which was described as middle
ground" between that adopted and
compulsory arbitration. No direct vote
on the antistrike proposal was taken.
On both votes, the proponents OF the
unions plan won by large majorities
rits.' by vote OF Isl 10 75. the House
substituted the unions plan for COM
pulsory arbitration, and then l6l to
los cast aside the committee plan To-,
hat indorsed by the workers. Final
acton came after practically the en-
;!re day had been devoted 10 lthaie
OF the three plans. ana after adoption
OF the workers plan. renewed EFFORT
TO include antistrike provision met
tactics.
Would Legal Machinery.
The plan approved by the railroad
employees. which was drafted by
Representative Sweet, Republican, OF
Iowa, and offered in the House by
II, II.
OF Minnesota. would legalize the ma
chinery used by the railroads AMI their
employees before and during Federal
control for the settlement OF disputes
with commissions on labor disputes
being added TO consider cases appea led
from the JOINT boards that nrst con-
sioer them. In brief, the plan divides
he railroad workers into three classes
and for each class 1t establishes an
adjustment board and appeal commit
tee No penalty against strike or lock-
out is imposed, and membership on
all SIX OF the boards would DC re-
"tricted to the workers and their ell
ployers. and divided eQua'iy between
them. Both the roads AMI the en-
pioyees would he directed by the plan
as written into the bill "exrr. every
reasonable effort and adopt every
available means to avoid an Interrupt
ton Of traffic. and TO this end the
ihree boards OF adjustment would be
created. these being substantially the
same as those existing under the rail-
road administration.
Would Deal with Disputes
The three adjustment boarts would
each deal with disputes of certain
classes OF the fourteen railway unions
One board would include representa-
tives OF the four big brothcrh Gods
the engineers, the iircmcn. the con-
ductors and the trainmcn; another
would include the machin!sts. the
GA armen. tho sheet metal workers and
thc electrical workers.; and the third
would include the tcleGrapherS, the
switchmcn. the railway clerks and the
way and shop lahorcrs Railway en-
ecutives would name four six and
four representatives, respectively, as
members of these boards.
Corresponding to each board there
also would he set up a commission
To consider appeals which wou!d be
sent To them by half the members Of
II board. These commissions would he
OF the same size as the boards, with
the select method or choosing mcmbcr3
obtaining. but with duality of mem
bcrship between boards and commits
sion prohibited. Headquarters or n,
six tribunals would be III Washing.
ton.