Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-04-02
President Must Appoint.
Body Provided to Set
tie Wage Controversies
When Deadlocked.
Brotherhoods Insist on
Agreement in Advances
Before Submitting to u.
S. Adjudication.

Washington, April Wage neeotia-
! tlons between the conference commit
tees representing the railroads and the
unions, were broken off tonight when
the railroad representatives declined to
continue consideration of demands which
have been given estimated to total one
billion dollars unless the public was
gwen a voice in the proceedings.
Under the provisions of the trans
portation act, the wage controversy now
will be referred to the railroad labor
board. which is yet to be appointed by
President Wilson. The law provides for
three representatives Of the public.
Differ in Meaning Of Law.
E. T. Winter, chairman of the railway
executive conference committee, an
nounced the decision in statement
which said the two sides were in dis
agreement as to the provisions of th.
transportation act. The union repre-
sentatives were said to hold that tue
law contemplated an agreement between
the railroads and the employees prior te
any opportunity for participation by the
representatives of the public
The railroad committeeman held that
such an agreement might be reached, but
they did not believe that congress ever
contemplated controversy involving go
great an addition to transportation costs
and in which the public is therefore So
vitality interested. should be disposed Of
by direct negotiation''
Owe 1t to Public, Which Pays.
MI: Winters statement satd in part:
The representatives of the railroads
take the. position that they could not
assume the responsibility of adding such
burden to the costs of transportation.
which are necessarily borne by the
s.> f,,JI
consent of the public. through its rep
resentatives, and that they must there
fore, decline the requests and let the
entire matter be disposed of as provided
IN the transportation act
This means that the controversy
must be submitted to the railway labor
board to be appointed by the president,
laws, on which the public will have three
representatives. the employees three and
the railway managements three. We in
vlted the committee representing the
employees to join with us in the forma-
ton OF committee to prepare data on
the various aspects of the subject which
we feel must ultimately be presented to
the labor board in any event. with a
view TO- expediting the disposition of
this difficult problem. They declined to
Join with us in the formation of such
a committee. They have announced their
intention OF appealing to the labor
board"
Means Rate Adjustment Basis.
In support Of the position taken by
the management conferees. that congress
did not intend a large increase in trans
portatlon costs should be made without
Of the public. Mr.. Whittier said
section so7 of the transportation act.
giving the labor board power to suspend
a wage agreement, is likely to require
substantial readjustment of freight
rates. He also pointed out that the law
enjoins the concurrence of one member
Of the public group on the labor board
IN any important case to make decision
effective.
At the office Of r. NJ Jewell chair
man of the railway employees conference,
i was said the union had no comment
% make on the rupture of the wage
1egotiations