The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-02-06

Washington, ID. g., Jan. IA rec
ommendation for the continuance, ev-
en- after the end of Government OPP
Grafton of railroads, Of the Boards of
Adjustment set up by the Railroad
Administration to render decisions on
controversies arising out Of the APP
plication of wage orders and on other
disputes between railroad officials and
employees, was contained in the an
nual report for the year 1919 of W. s..
Carter, Director of the Division Of La
Dor of the Railroad Administration, to
Walker d. Hines, Director General Of
Railroads, made public today.
at will be noted that Railway
Boards of Adjustment have no Jurls-
diction over the recommendation, is
suance, and Interpretation OIL wage o.
ders. their duties being confined to DE-
cisions on controversies arising out Of
the application of wage orders and to
decisions on all other disputes between
the official and employees working un-
der agreements" said Mr. Carter iii
his report.
"The work Of these boards demon
stratcs not only the advisability Of the
creation of such boards, but the ne
cessity of their continuance either UNI
der Federal control of railroads or
thereafter. The fact that the boards
are bipartisan, without umpire or
neutral member and all Of which
members are experts on railroad
agreement matters, has led both Of
ticials and employees to have conf
dence not only in the fairness of de-
cisions reached, but as to the techni-
cal ability of the members Of the
boards to pass intalilgently upon all
controversies submitted for decision.
"Where controversies, sometimes Of
the simplest character, formerly re-
suited in negotiations extending owe:
months or years, resulting in strained
relations between tine officials and the
employees, such controversies when
not promptly disposed Of by the Off
Gals and employees are referred to
Boards of Adjustment for iiaal deci-
sion without any personal feeling IN
tie natter"
Mr.. CATERS report reviewing the
comparatively small number Of cases
on all tie railroads in the country ii
authorized strikes during 1919, and
pictured the work Of the Division Of
Labor of the Railroad Administration
in adjusting such controversies in CO.
operation with other branches Of the
Railroad Administration.
Outlining labor conditions as he saw
them on railroads prior to Govern
mcrt control and the railroad labor
gitustion when Government control of
railroads began, Mr.. Garter said:
zone of the principal purposes Of
the creation of the Division Of Labor
was to provide means whereby the
controversies that constantly arise be-
tween officials and employees would
be promptly and eQuitably adjusted.
An inability to adjust these controver-
sizes under past practices resulted IN
strikes, threatened strikes, or con-
slant unrest among employees to the
extent that the efficiency Of the SER
vice had greatly diminished at the
time that the roads were taken over
under Federal control.
at is but fair to say that neither
the officials nor the employees were
cUll+tly " bllliiC lol oO uiuSoIi wv ."
situation. While on some roads there
hid icver been a liberal policy toward
EMPLOYEES of certain classes, study
of past relations will reveal the fact
that not SO many ye@rs ago the labor
policy of a railroad was developed en-
tirely by the operating officers. At
that time committees of employees,
with the knowledge that their imme-
date operating officers had the au-
thority to grant wage increases, re-
wise wage agreements, and adjust per-
sonal grievances, entered into negotla-
tons with their respective officials
with an open mind, and with the be-
lief that if evidence and argument
could be presented that would prove
their contentious, the operating Off
Gals of the road would at least grant
some relief from the conditions of
employment against which complaint
WAS made.
an those days wage increases were
granted from time to time, wage
agreements were revised so as to in
clude rules more favorable to employ
ees, and personal grievances arising
out of the administration of discipline
were disposed of usually without u
strike or threat of a strike.
at is alleged by employees that
with a concentration of financial con-
AvPNl FnTIkVN THAT