Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-02-18
RAILROAD BILL
PROVIDES PLAN
OF ARBITRATION
Provides for Temporary Ad-
justment Board With Perma-
nent Appeal Body.
SOLONS TO RUSH LAW

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1s.-A permanent
system Of arbitration, which, it is be-
lieved will be satisfactory to labor, has
been agreed upon by senate and house
conferees as the finishing touch to the
railroad bill.
The labor provisions we're changed at
the last minute because of recommends
tions made by Director General Hines,
which are understood to represent the
views of President Wilson The plan
adopted is similar to that proposed by
the president as the means of settling
the present railway wage dispute.
All anti strike or compulsory arbitra-
ton features were previously eliminated
from the conference report and the new
system relies entirely upon public opin-
ion for its enforcement.
The conference report, which will be
submitted to the house today" creates
railway board of labor appeals and
allows the formation Of railway adjust
ment boards whenever satisfactory to
both carriers and employees.
APPEAL BOARD ONLY
TO HANDLE WAGES.
The adjustment boards are of tenn
porary nature and may handle disputes
over hours, grievances and working con-
ditions. but not wages. After a failure
of the adjustment boards to agree, an
appeal can be taken to the appeals hoard
which has the exclusive jurisdiction of
Nil disputes concerning wages, this pro
vision being added to insure uniform
wages throughout the country
The makeup of the appeals board was
one of the last minute changes Of the
ccnferees. 1t had been tentatively agreed
that the board was to be composed OF
five members, three of whom represented
the public, the carriers and the em-
rloyes. and this plan was accepted with
the limitation that at least one public
representative must vote for an increase
ia wages before Il can be accepted. A
majority vote is required to make an
award. The adjustment boards are com
poSed of equal numbers of representa-
tiyes of the carriers and the employees
Members OF the appeals board are to be
appointed by the president for terms of
two, three and four years, with the ap-
proval of the senate, and their salaries
are fixed at $4,000. There are nine mem
bers.
A provision requires that all members
Of this board must dispose Of any in
terests they have IN railroad securities.
The three carrier and three employe mem
ueFS are SeittteO from ilhts OF SIX eau
ddates submitted to the president by
the railway executives and organized
labor The president selects three mem
bers himself
To guard the rights Of unorganiEed
labor the bin allows the board to take
up any dispute upon the petition OF 100
unorganized workers.
Awards Of the appeals board are hnal,
but no penalties are provided for viola
lions. All alleged violations viii be in
vestigated by the board and If found to
be contrary to the award viii be so de-
clared publicly.
ACTION EXPECTED
TO BE RUSHED.
The house expects TO rush the bill
TO passage and the senate Is expected
10 follow with speedy action.
The following general provisions are
agreed on IN the reports
The interstl.e commerce commits sion
shall establish rates which shall yield on
the aggregate property value Of all roads
in each rate making district as set forth
net operating income OF Oh per cent.
to which may be added one half OF l
per cent TO be applied TO nonproductiye
improvements, such as stations, termi-
mails, STRENGTHENING rights way, etc