Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-20
BOARD Of APPEALS
IS PROVIDED FOR IN
CONF ERENCE REPORT

WASHINGTON.-Upon the signing
this week of the final compromise
agreement on legislation for the re-
turn of the railroads to private oW-
nership, two movements for the set
Element of the railway wage dispute
will be under way. Coincident
with the announcement that the
house and senate cOnfereeS prac-
tically had re-drafted the labor sec
ton of the Hill so as to provide for
compulsory arbitration, Director Cen
eral Hines sent a request to Presi-
dent Cuyler. of the Association of
Railway Executives, for conference
here with him of a committee repre-
senting the railroad corporation
heads to discuss President Wilson's
proposal for the creation of a joint
commission to hear the union en-
ployes' demands.
The railroad legislation as agreed
to was redrafted so as to meet such
labor troubles as developed recently
through the wage demands of the
employees brotherhoods. Instead of
a federal board of five appointed by
the president to deal finally with
wage disputes, the provision as re
written would create a board of nine
members, whose decisions would be
binding. This commission or board
also would be appointed by the pres
ident, but would consist of three
members representing each the en-
ployes and the executives and three
representing the public.
The re-drafted provision was sub
mitted to Director General Hines and
was said in principle to meet his
views Efforts will be made in both
branches of congress to expedite pas
sage of the bill so that the return
of the roads March 1 will be gov
erned by a fixed legislative policy.
At the conference Mr.. Hines will
have with the railroad officials
he will seek to learn their attitude
toward President Wilson's plan for
settlement of the wage controversy
in event the arbitration machinery
proposed in the reorganization bill
fails to become law The general
convention of union representatives
will be held here next Monday, and
Mr.. Hines hoped to have his con-
ference with the officials before that
date.
The conference report creates
railway board of labor ap-
peals and allows the formation of
railway adjustment boards whenever
satisfactory to both carriers and en-
ployes. The adjustment boards are
of a temporary nature, and may han
die disputes over hours, grievances
and working conditions, but not
wages.
After failure of the adjustment
boards to agree an appeal can be
taken to the appeals board, which
has the exclusive jurisdiction of all
disputes concerning wages, this pro-
vision being added to insure uniform
wages throughout the country.
Members of the appeals board are
to be appointed by the president for
the terms of two. three and four
years, with the approval of the SEN
ate. and their salaries are fixed at
$4,000. There are nine members.
A provision requires that all men,
bers Of this board must dispose of
any interests they have in railroad
securities. The three carrier and
three employee members are selected
from lists of six candidates submit
ted to the president by the railway
executives and organized labor. The
president selects three members him
self.
To guard the rights of inorganic
ed labor, the bill allows the board to
take UP any dispute upon the petit
ton of 100 unorganized workers.
Awards of the appeals board are
final. but not penalties are provided
for violations. All alleged violations
Will be investigated by the board and
II found to be contrary to the award
Ill be so declared publicly.