The Washington times., 1919-03-14
TOT
. FULL PARTY
IN DISPUTES
W. R. & E. Case May Cause
Change in Regulations of
War Labor Board.
By BILL PRICE.

As an outcome Of the dispute be-
tween the Washington Railway ana
Electric Company and its. employees
over working conditions, -in an
sWard which will soon be made by
the National War Labor Board, It
10 expected that the board will amend
its rules OF procedure in hearings OF
this kind so as to permit the public
TO become q full party in all future
disputes, having the same rights OF
examination of witnesses and argu-
ment by counsel as the two parties
directly interested.
Such action by the board will be
significant and important to an un-
usual degree. II will be the first
official, quasi judicial recognition
that in disputes between public uiti-
tty corporations and their employees
over wages or other matters the real
party is and should be the public,
which not only pays the bills. but
suffers in the event of strikes or
lockouts
This phase Of a problem of unusual
Importance to all citizens of the ma
ton has been presented to officials
Of the board through The Times and
by w. NICK. Clayton, chairman Of the
4
eration Of Citizens Associations
Mr.. Clayton undertook to have the
Washington public made a party to
the dispute when hearings were held
before examiners Of the board. Be-
yond permitting him to submit q
brief, which he has done, the exami-
ners could not accept his position
bscause Of existing rules. James H. /
YAhey, counsel for the Amalgamated
Association OF Street Car Employees,
objected to Mr.. clayton interfering"
on behalf Of the public, while the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company not only did not offer OBJ
lection but stated that II held the
opinion that the public was a most
vital party to all disputes of this
kind, inssmuch as il must in the end
bear the financial burdens involved
or suffer all the inconveniences Of q
te-up Of railway lines.
Recommends Change In Rules.
Z Charlton Ogburn, chairman Of the
examiners, who took the testimony,
ana the two examiners who sat with
him are understood today to have
been impressed with the broad gen.
eral proposition that the public is
truly more vitality concerned than
either capital or labor and should be
represented in the future, If it de-
Sires that privilege. He is under
stood to have recommended to Messrs,
Taft and Manly. joint chairmen OF
the board, the wisdom of amending
the rules so as to give representa-
, tives of the public the same rights
as the contending parties. His rec
Ommendations are said to have been
Gympathetically received.
Frank p. Walsh, who was for a long1
! time one Of the joint chairmen Of che |
board, resigning to return to law
practice, told The Times representa- |
tive today that he was greatly i'm
pressed with the idea that the pub
lie should be admitted on terms Of |
equality in all disputes before the |
board. The public Is entitled TO this |
consideration. Such action would be |
democratic to the fullest degree"
An ychange in the rules of pro-
cedure need not necessarily be cou-
pied with the award to be made in I
the Washington case, although COM /
nent might be appropriate on the /
subject.
Far-reaehInE Result.
Because Of the possibility Of in
creasing disturbances between capi-
tai and labor for a while to come, |
during the readjustments of busi-
ness and industry, recognition by the !
War Labor Board Of the fundamental
light OF the public to have its sin
nings" in these disputes will be far
reaching. 1t would be tantamount, 4
IN many respects, to a referendum /
by the public, which is in position
20 make known its views as to /
what II thinks is right
The present War Labor Board will /
not continue in existence much /
longer but the executive and legis-
Iative branches Of the Government 1
are practically united in the view
mat some such tribunal should be-
come permanent
William H. Taft, one Of the Joint |
chairmen who must sign the award |
in the Washington case. has just re-