The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-03-13

thereto to the board which under the
provisions of this title is authorized
to hear and decide such dispute"
Insist on Bipartisan.
The executives of the labor organ.
izations will communicate with the
President and ask him to clear up the
point in dispute.
II he agrees to SUMMON a bi-par-
tisan board made*up. Of men author
lied to represent all the railroads. as
we'll as all the recognized railroad
labor organizations, there is reason to
believe that a satisfactory adjustment
of the wage problem can be brought
about.
Such board could meet at once,
and if its members succeeded in COM
ing to an understanding could submit
its findings to the labor board Gre
ated by the ummins-Esch bill. This
latter board is to consist of three men
representing the public, three the rail-
road companies and three the en-
ployes, and is clothed with power to
determine wage questions. The Presi-
dent is expected to name the members
of this board in tn near future, and
1t is taken for granted that the board
will confirm any agreement that the
bipartisan board might make.
Irrelevant circumstances
In this connection it is interesting
to recall the provisions Of the Cum
mins-Esch bill setting forth the prin-
ciples on which the labor board Is
expected to fix wages. In the lang
uage of the act, sevent Irrelevant cir
cumstances" are to be taken into con-
sideration.
: First, the scales Of wages paid for
similar kinds Of work in other indus
tries.
:. Second, the relation between wages
and the cost. Of living.
:; Third, the hazards Of the employ
ment.
Fourth, the training and schooling
required.
Fifth, the degree of responsibility. =
- Sixth, the character and regularity
Of the employment. :.:..
Seventh, inequalities of increases
In wages or Of treatment, the result
OF previous wage orders or adjust
ments.; =
The President in his latest letter to
the executives Of the railroad labor
organizations lls> attention to these
principles, and makes it clear that In
this judgment they must govern in all
negotiations which may hereafter be
held between the railroads and. their
employees in an effort to bring about
onnfoo h1o ,rfv 90
putes.
Managers are Silent.
The railroad managers have made
no public declaration to indicate their
attitude toward the wage demands.
Just before the President signed the
railroad bill it. was rumored that Dir
ector: General Hines had indicated
the Presidents views to a representa-
tive gathering Of railroad presidents,
and that they had agreed to the ap-
pointment of bipartisan board
which would adjust wages on the basis
of the principles set forth in the Cum
Minis Esch bill,
No one in authority would confirm
this report. The director general held
several conferences with the railroad
presidents, but SO far as the public
knows the subjects discussed had to
do exclusively with the return of the
roads to their former owners. How
ever, there is reason to believe that
the wage problem was discussed and
that the director general undertook to
acquaint the presidents with the de-
sire of the nations chief executive.
The point which is in doubt, how
ever, is whether he urged the rail-
road presidents to deal with the prob
lem on national basis or to insist
upon considering it from the varying
points of view of each railroad system