New-York tribune., 1920-12-26

text, and often without even beinv
suomltted to their immediate superiors
Stanoardlzation was rapidly ey-
tended and became wellnigh complete
so that the same class Of employees
everywhere throughout the country 20.
ceived the same pay, irrespective AZ
local CONDITIONS and differing costs Of
living. This operated to Strengthen
the national unions and increase tha
prestige of their leaders, and led ~
an extension OF unionism and collscs
tive bargaining among classes OF en-
p-oyees and systems OF railways +
which 1t was before unknown.
This was the situation when cor.
gress passed the transportation ACT ~
wv Lapor leaders endeavored to 4. =
cure IN this legislation the perpeera-
tlon OF the national adjustment boards
OF the war period. Railway manaosrs
wanted restoration Of decentrsI-
lied discipline and control. The ont.
come was IN sense compromise. l.
was declared by the next act TO be the
duty OF carriers and employees to ey-
ert every reasonable effort and adont
every available means to avoid intar-
ruption of operation, and disputax
were to be considered and II possible
oec'ded IN conference Of those di.
rectly interested. Thia was obviously
intended TO prevent sudden strikes that
might be called without AZ sttsmpt
peaceably to settle the dispute Thss
this may be the Official interpsvtstior
Of the clause is shown by an order Of
the national Railroad Labor Board a
week ago ordering executives of two
of the brotherhoods to show cause whv
they issued strike referendum to
members Of their organizations "in
violation of the transportation act"
Voluntary Adjustment Boards
1t is further provided in the law that
voluntary adjustment boards can be
established by agreement between On
Individual carrier, group of carriers,
or the carriers as a whole, and the en-
ployees concerned, to which disputes
involving working conditions not sst-
tied by direct conference on the indi-
vldual railway can be sent. If the ad-
Justment board fails to settle the mat
ter, appeal can be taken to tho Rail-
road Labor Board, body with national
jurisdiction, consisting OF representa-
tives OF the employees. the railways
and the public. This national BODY
takes original jurisdiction of any dis
pute over wages not settled locally bur
matters of discipline and working Lon-
dltlons must first go through the sd-
Justment boards
But note this additional provision Of
the law. If adjustment boards are not
established, and for their establish
fnent mutual consent is necessary, the
national boa d may take the place of
these adjustment boards and exercise
original jurisdiction 1t is only nee
essary that the union leaders should
dechne to cooperate in the appoint
ment Of adjustment boards. and, sool
er or.slater, the natianaf board must
take action. In feetg the national
Of the two sides to this possible ouC-
come.
Meanwhile. because no adjustment
machinery exists, the unions have sue
ceeded in getting a multitude Of cases
of discipline before the national board
and are charged with doing this for
the purpose Of impressing the board
with the necessity of creating some
national machinery to handle these dis
putes. In other words, they are seek
ing TO restore the adjustment boards
of the war period.
Declines to Act
They have followed this Cd BY
express request that national adjust
ment boards should be esta ablished to
take the place of the war boards which
expire February l next. but the Rail-.
road Labor Board has declined TO act
Tor lack Of jurisdiction, holding that
1T has authority only over disputes.
Here the struggle rests at present
No local or regional boards Of 3D.
Justment have been created because
labor has refused 60 cooperate, Aad
their attempts to restore the nattoual
boards of adjustment have been With.
out the support of law. They have
occurred the continuance, until further
hearings can be given by the board. Of
an the national agreements OF the
United States Railroad Administration.
whlch include such matters ss the
e''ght-hour day and the abolition Of
piece work in the shops. II the unions
could but reestablish their national 3D.
Justment boards, the golden age would
be restored.
But this means for the individual
railway breakdown in esprit de corps,
IN discipline, in the direct contact be-
tween manager and men, which works
| Tor loyalty and efficient results. Many
cnarge that this is movement for the
closed shop and the zone big union
but those who make this charge many
OF them are themselves associated
with the open shop campaign now or
among employers, and their accusations
may properly be discounted as cam
palgn material. What the movement
certainly does mean, and this is
frankly admitted by its leaders, Is
determination to perpetuate the cen
trallzed adjustment machinery Of the
war period, and preserve the results OF
Standardization. The consequences q
such a policy upon the efficiency OF rhe
working force will be sufficiently g-avs
without worrying over "Sovietism."
Plan Has Strong Appeal
It Is evidently the judgment Of the
labor leaders that they can accomplish
more through bipartisan Cancellation
boards than through the tripartite or,
ganization Of tke Railroad Labor Board
upon which the public is represented
The adjustment seseme under wn'S
the representatives or the two :. %
set together across a tabic and ol p 'so
Of their difficulties face to fsce mas
strong appeal and its success "nsA
compared with the results or the afo', s
tration method, has strongly luS'ihsSs
it. But yet in an issue so vl'ai a's..
far reaching there is 10 assurance tis1' ma =
at some time or other the TWO pa w
will not enter into COLLISION 81 '''N
pense Of the public. Ia. o,a,
Certain it is. if the tripSr'''e 80
of settlement is to prevail .ne ~ rJa
nesses of earlier arbitraton ,sr
must be corrected. Men must De ei0sss 80
to represent the public VINO nave ,.r, ~
capacity to gain thorough under
! STANDING of tbo ;r.r;racles Of railway