The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-26
BOARD ID
 PROTECT RIGHTS OF COMMUNITIES

Washington, Feb. 25.-When the Nation War Labor Board makes an award in the dispute between the Washington Railway and Electric Company and its employees 1t will also decide whether it has power in such disputes to make the cities or communities in which they arise parties to the contentious If 1t de- Cides that 1t has such power, the board will take into consideration in all future decisions their effect on the general public.
 Joint Chairman Manly said the board in its past awards simply had given heed to the pleadings of the employer and emplOye, and had not taken into consideration the prob able effect of it's awards on the gen eral population. He pointed out that the board is a war-created organiza- ton, organized to help to keep in dustry going and in that way to ac- celerate the successful prosecution of the war.
 But we are now going to take up the question whether we have the right in the absence of specific leg islation, to make cities in which labor controversies arise parties to the dis putes," said MT. Manly. There are many angles from which to consider a proposition of this nature. It is a big question and ought to be settled as soon as possible"
 The question of whether communI- ties have rights In connection with the settlement of labor disputes was raised by w. Mex. Clayton, attorney for the Confederate Citizens clubs of Washington. Mir. Clayton was in- vited by the examiners for the War Labor Board to file a brief dealing specifically with the question he raised.
 MT Clayton in his brief insists that the city of Washington has a vital public utility corporations and their employees. He says this applies whether wages are raised or lowered. If the wages of men are reduced, the standard of living must be lowered and the purchasing capacity of the employees will diminish. If cOmpen- sation to the men is increased above what might be generally regarded as reasonable, the public will be forced to provide the increase in the form of higher rates.
 '-There can be no escape from the conclusion that the people of a com- munity are vitally interested in labor decisions as well as in labor dis putes," said MT, Clayton. "The old idea that labor dispute concerns only the principals no longer prevails in enlightened communities. Of course, I know that the War Labor Board was created for a specific war purpose, and when created 1t was not thought that it would function after peace is proclaimed.
 But there seems to be a. pretty general demand for the perpetuatior of this very useful body. The joint chairmen are men of great ability. They have breadth of vision and ca pacity for graspinE labor problem: which is enjoyed by few. Their de cisions in nearly all cases have beer accepted without demur''
 If MT. Taft and MT. Manly decide that their powers are not sufficien to allow them to grant the prayer o1 Mir. Clayton, Congress will be asked to clothe the board with such power.
 Tt is only proper that great citie; like New York, Boston, Philadelphia Buffalo, Chicago and St. Louis shoult be heard in connection with labor petitions, said MT Clayton.
 Secretary of Labor Wilson is be. lieved to indorse this view, and f said to be ready to ask for such leg islatfon as will make it possible fo the War Labor Board to act in har mony with it.