Norwich bulletin., 1921-04-02
WILLARD ON TIE RAILROAD SITUATION.

In fact, congress in thectransportation act has created for this particular pur- pose special labor court consisting of the same number as the supreme court of the United States, appointed in the same way, that is to say. by the presi- dent and confirmed by the senate, and has given the board or court a status and dignity in keeping with It's importance The law says that 1t shall be the duty
 of the board to establish rates of pay
 and standards of working conditions, which, in the opinion Of the board, shall
 be just and reasonable.
 It may indeed be said that congress by this act has made a preferred class of the railroad workers, because so far as
 know this is the first and only time that congress has ever definitely said that any particular class of the people should be l given at all times and under all ciroum-
 stances just and reasonable wages and
 working conditions
 l Of course congress did not do this pri-
 marily in the interest of the workers. Congress acted only as 1t had a right to
 act in the interests of the nation as a
 whole. Congress provided or aimed to
 provide by law so that the railroad work
 CTS would at all times be assured of just as good wages and just as good working
 conditions without striking as they could | reasonably expect to secure If they did strike, for it is clear that no one could ! Justify or expect to win a strike for wages or working conditions that would
 be- unjust or unreasonable.
 II While some criticism has been voiced aaginst the labor provision of the act, not only by the employees, but by the employ
 CTS as well, am still hopeful that this I feature of the act will eventually prove to be wise and satisfactory, and If the
 other features of the new Legislation
 work out as it was the intention and be- z lief of congress that they would work out, then l .nink congress has made pri. | vate ownership and operation of the rail } roads in this country possible, but wheth 7 CT private ownership and operation of th' 3 railroads endurcs-haying been made pos l sible-depends largely if not wholly upor : whether the railroads under private own r ership and operation are able to give ant
 ido give the public satisfactory service.
 At the present time it would seem tha
 there is majority, in fact large ma | jority, of public opinion in favor of priv ate ownership and operation, but we hav
 Seen public opinion change suddenly. an have no doubt that 1t would chang again just as quickly, and react just a strongly against private ownership. '' the public felt that upon the whole the e would be likely to get more satisfactor
 SClNlSc SOIue OlIeT way.
 'f As I view the matter, private .ownershi n and operation of the railroads is still O n trial in this country, but 1t has every e Ithing in its favor and it ought to wi e and believe it will win if the manager
 measured by the service which they giN ts the public. deserve to win.
 o Since the termination of federal col 's trol we have actually seen the railroad ~ operated by private management und ,4 the provisions of the Esoh- h-Cumn1ins AS ,m,, ~ move in. 1920, 5000, ,000, 900 ton miles mo <, IT than in 1918, employing substantially t
 same facilities.
 .ol We have seen the interstate commer .s commission, under the terms of the saT ,s act, promptly authorize such rate 1 K, creases as would. in its opinion, fulfill t i5 requirements of the act, and we have al Iv seen one of the most complex labor situ nd tions ever developed, dealt with in ord, d- ly fashion by the agencies created by { act without interruption of the trar is- portation service.
 in The very fact of the controversy ,f Chicago speaks volumes for the act. Gu o- tions involving wages and working e -o- ditions affecting nearly 2,000,00 hum ,e1 beings are certain to bring out points le- difference, and if the contestants shol
 sometimes raise their voices above he conventional pitch of polite society, &C., would not follow that the law had fai on --on the contrary 1t would indicate u r I" the problem was being worked out t his as congress intended it should be, a 1ts without interruption of the service. ne am inclined to think that under 1