New-York tribune., 1920-02-19
Labor Fights
Wage Clause
OF Rail Bill
Continued from page I

that have no contracts shall receive not
fed in the standard contracts.
Detailed provision is made for the
adjustment Of the roads Indebtedness
to the United States and the Federal
governments Indebtedness to the car
riers. The President, through the rail-
road administration, is directed to set
tie accounts as soon as possible, and
provision Is made for settlement Of
disputed claims in court.
Scope of Labor Board
The labor provisions of the confer
ence committee bill follow:
"It shall be the duty Of all carriers
and their officers, employees and
agents to exert every reasonable effort
and adopt every available means to
avoid any interruption to the operation
of any carrier growing out of any dis
pute between the carrier and the en-
ployees or subordinate officials there
of. All such disputes shall be consid-
cred and, if possible, decided In con-
ference between representatives desig-
mated and authorized so to confer by
the carriers. or the employees or SUBJ
ordinate officials thereof, directly in
tercsted in the dispute. If any dispute
is not decided in such conference, it
shall be referred bv the parties thereto
to the board which under the provi-
sions of this title is authorized to hear
and decide such dispute.
"Railroad boards of labor adjustment
may be established by agreement be-
tween any carrier, group of carriers or
the carriers as a whole, and any en-
ployees or subordinate officials of car
riers, or organization or group of or
ganizations thereof.
c%y NJ ri hon
%, Upon the application Of the chief
executive of any carrier or organiza-
ton of employees or subordinate Off
cials whose members are directly inter-
ested in the dispute; (2), upon the
written petition signed by 100 unor-
ganized employees or subordinate off,
cials directly interested in the dis
putc; (3), upon the adjustment boards
own motion, or. (4), upon the request Of
of the opinion that the dispute is like
ly substantially to interrupt commerce,
receive for hearing, and as soon as
practicable and with due diligence de-
eide any dispute involving only griev-
ances, rules or working conditions, be-
tween the carrier and its employees or
subordinate officials who are, or any or
ganization thereof which is, represent
ed upon any such adjustment board"
Public To Be Represented
The central body, to be known as the
"raiIroad labor board" would be COM
posed of nine members, to be appoint
ed by the President with the advice
and consent of the Senate: three
representing the employees, three the
railroad executives and three the pub
lie. They shall hold Office for five years
and receive $4,000 year each. Dis
putes shall be referred to it by the
adjustment boards or by the en-
ployees or carriers.
The board shall publish it's decisions,
and this publicity is the only weapon
with which the board is provided to
require the employees and carriers to
carry out its decisions. The board is
empowered to investigate working con-
ditions OF the railroad men and report
it's findings to the President.
The interstate commerce act is
amended so as greatly to enlarge the
powers OF the Interstate Commerce
Commerce Commission. Under the
proposed amendments the commission
would have power to fix rates, control
the distribution of cars, compel the
joirt rse OF terminals, equipment and
other facilities and requires joint rates,
order priority shipments, require joint
raj ag.d water rates and lines, control
extension of existing lines, control the
Issuance of securities by railroad COM
pr direct the reorganization of the
roads into a limited number of COM