Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-02-29

lIle IdilIUdu UIll.
Wanted Law on Wage Case
Announcement of the signing of the
bill came after officials had become
convinced Mr. Wilson did not intend to
act tonight, although they were GER
tain he would not permit the measure
TO become a law by the expiration of
the To-day limit allowed for president
ial approval or veto of an act of con-
gress. There were indications that the
presidents action on the bill was de-
layed pending his completion of his reply
to the brotherhood heads.
In his letter, Mr.. Wilson said the
passage of the railroad bill made it
"evident that I could not act on your
suggestions until it should have been
determined whether the bill would be-
come law or not.
1T was manifest the letter con-
tinued- that if the bill should become a
law, the negotiations and considera
ton Of the wage matter ought to pro-
ceed in harmony Herewith.
The bill having now become a law.
the way is open for immediate action on
the wage matter. in accordance with the
terms of the bill. Section 301 of the
bill evidently contemplates that the car
riers and employees should as suggested
by you. select representatives who will
thus constitute a bipartisan board for
the purpose of attempting by conference
to agree on a solution of this wage
problem.
Will at Once Act on Pay.
in accordance with the assurance
gave YOU last August, and repeated in
substance in my letter of the 18th in
stant. / shall at once request the car
riers and the employees TO join III this
action. | believe such a step will go far
toward clarifying and maturing the sub
ject for final disposition. In fact. the
sort of board thus contemplated by
Section 301 appears to be an appropri-
ate substitute for the committee of ex
perts which / have heretofore suggest
ed and indeed such a board will be
authorized to go further than such a
committee could have gone.
Joint Board Can Clear Way.
While it is true that the provisions
of section 30I of the railroad bill re-
lating to the labor board will probablyA
wage matter, nevertheless the bi-par
tisan board can make great deal OF
progress which will materially diminish
the time to be consumed by the labor
board and while the bipartisan board
is funetioning the appointment and or
ganizaton of the labor board can be
Can't Share Fears.
II cannot share the apprehension of
and your constituents as to
the provisions of the law concerning
the labor board | believe those pro-
visions are not only appropriate in the
interest of the public. which. after all. /
is principally composed of workers and
their families, but will be found To be |
in the interest of railroad I
employees as class.
The argument that the public rep |
on the labor board will be |
rom classes of society antagonistic TO
abor can and ought to be overcome by
selecting such public representatives as
be charged with any such pref I
ldices. Nor do | anticipate that the
public representatives will be against Il
eage increases because they involve rate
Increases. Il
wage Standards to Guide.
Not only must public representatives
'e selected who can be relied upon TO
hat the labor board shall establish
ates and wages and salaries which in
he opinion h5o' Of see eetixed r1,ls Just AMI AMI
he entire S been soaked in auided
y the lis makes them pick siesh /
rds rd p;Ist instead Of spread Eth
ar, it around. kE
NO DELIVERIES ~