The Washington times., 1920-03-21
CONGRESS TOOL OF
ROADS, SAYS BRYAN
Fortunate Systems Get Guaran-
tee While Farmer or Merchant
Goes Without.
Continued from First Pass.)


for the favoritism shown the rail-
roads In the guarantee or pronts, the
guarantee only runs six months, then
expires by its own limitations
The railroads are for eighteen
months thereafter to be allowed to
charge rates sufficient to secure a
minimum return of 6h per cent and,
under certain conditions, IL can be
increased. But this indulgence Is
limited to two years, or until March
1, 1922. When that time comes the
people may change the law.
Objectionable Labor Clauses
The labor provisions are objection
able. Organized labor has registered
a protest against a provision which
de pc nding upon the construction given
II by the courts. may or may not be
destructive to their rights
The law declares it to be the duty
OF the employees las we'll as OF off,
Gals and agents) to exert every
reasonable effort and adopt every
available means to avoid any inter-
ruption to the operation OF any car
rier growing out OF any dispute be-
tween the carrier and the employees
or subordinate officials"
Tho employees express a fear that
that provision may be so construed
as TO deny to the employees the right
to strike under any circumstances or
conditions. II all depends upon tho
construction placed upon the phrases.
every reasonable effort" and every
available means"
All Depends On the Judge.
A hostile judge might hold that the
employees had not exhausted every
reasonable effort" and employed
every available means" to avoid
interruption of the business before
striking.
1t is unfortunate that a matter OF
such great Importance should be left
to judicial construction. Every body
deplores the strike and the lockout,
and yet until some means can be
provided that will insure justice. 1t
is not fair to shut the door against
the only remedy that employees have.
The machinery created for the
settlement of disputes goes further
than any previous law to bring
about a settlement. Th1labor board
which deals with the wage question
Is made up of three persons elected
from those selected by labor, three
from those selected by the railroad
management, and three who are sup.
posed to represent the public.
That is a fair division. Each side
should, Of right, be given representa-
ton. 1t is proper also that the pub
lic--the patrons of the road number
probably ten times as many as stock
holders and employees combined and
furnish the money for both stock
holders and erhployes-should be rep
resented in matters affecting wages
if the dispute is likely to cause a
strike.
Why A Conditional Majority.
But ii is difficult to understand |
why a majority of Ave should neces- 4
sarily include representative of all 1
three elements. A
II a majority is to speak tor the
board, it should make no difference |
whether that majority is made up OF |
of two of the elc- |
ments only or of representatives OF
all three. 1t is evidently an attempt |
to mingle group representation with
individual representation, and the |
reason for tho attempt is not well
founded.
But still greater objection lies to
the Indebtedness of the language.
While the law does not specifically
say that the findings OF the majority
are binding, it does not specifically
reserve to each side the right to act
Independence in case there is fail
ure to agree.
One Correct Step.
The publicity provided is step in
the right direction. but there should
be no ambiguity or doubt as to the
Of this board. Compulsory
is right. and that in
yestigation should be made at the re-