The Washington herald., 1919-12-29
CONFERENCE URGES
: INDUSTRIAL COURT
TO PROTECT PUBLIC
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE


shall be composed Of nine members
chosen by the President and con-
hrmed by the Senate Three shall
represent the employers OF the coun-
try and shall be appointed upon
n9minatfon OF the Secretary of Com
meree.- Three shall represent en-
ployes and shall be appointed upon
nomination of the Secretary Of Ia
Dor. Three shall be representatives
OF the public interest. Not more
than fiye Of the members shall be of
the same political party.
The tribunal shall be, in general.
board OF appeal. Its determine
lions on disputes coming to IL upon
an appeal shall be by unanimous
vote. In case it is unable to reach
q determination, 1t shall make and
publish majority and minority re-
ports which shall be matters of pub
lie record"
Twelve Districts Proposed.
In providing for the operation Of
the proposed system the conference
suggests the division of the United
States into twelve districts, similar,
50 far as boundaries are concerned.
to those established under the Fed
eral reserve system.
Each of these regions would have
q chairman appointed by the Presi-
dent. He would be the representa-
tive Of the public interest and would
serve for. a period Of three years,
with the Chief Executive exercising
the privilege Of reappointment. As
a bulwark to the regional chair
man. Sthe National Industrial Tri-
bunal could. at its discretion, choose
one or more vice chairmen and pro-
vide for the establishment of addi-
tional regional boards.
Somewhat akin to jury service Is
the. method suggested for the seIec-
ton Of representatives of employers
and employees for the regional
boartN The Secretary of Commerce
and the SECRETARY OF Labor would
be authorized TO prepare panels for
the approval of the President, and
upon service, on a regional board
a mans name would automatically
so to- the bottom Of the list, thus
insuringa a complete rotation.
All Decisions Unanfmous,
There Will be three members on
each regional board, including the
chairman, and all decisions must be
as the result OF a unanimous vote.
In the event 1t cannot do this It Is
privileged to select an umpire, whose
decision shall be fipal, or appeal the
case TO the national tribunal.
Provision Is likewise made for the
inauguration OF a regional board
Of adjustment into a board of in
curry at any time either side to a
controversy fails to name a repre-
sentative, and also for its re-trans-
formation back to an adjustment
board.
In connection with the coa4 strike.
and the rumblings of a threatened
railroad strike. the report has some
striking things to say. 1t would vest
IT'S boards with powers now held by
certain bronches OF the government
Affecting Public Utilities.
This is what it has to say on the
subject:
The plan here proposed presents
greater difficulties in application 10
certain public utilities than to COM
petitive industry. The continuous
operation OF public utilities is vital
to public welfare. AS the capital in
vested is employed in public use, so
Is the labor engaged in public serv-
Ice: and the withdrawal of either
with the result, of suspending service
udAcS lne people the real victim.
While continuous operation Of ali
utilities is conducive to the general
convenience Of the people, that OF
some Of them is essential to their very
existence. OF the latter class the
railways are a conspicuous example
and bear the same relation ID the
body polite as do the arteries to the
human body. Suspension produces
practical social and economic anarchy
and may impose hardship even to the
point Of starvation upon large Gee
lions Of the community. The in
terruption in such essential public
utilities Is intolerable.
Further Study Needed.
The conference believes that a plan
OF tribunals or boards Of adjustment
and inquiry should be applied to pub
lie utilities, but In the adaptation of
tho plan two problems present them
selves.
First. governmental regulations of
public utilities is now usually con-
-