The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-02-18
UNIONS ASK DELAY.
IN RAIL HEARING
More Time Needed to Prepare
RebuttaI Evidence.
FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
Workers Spokesman Asks Labor
Board 20 Order Conference Of EN-
pIoyers and Employees.


Chicago, Feb. lS.-A recess of ono
month in the hearing before the rail
road labor board on the Application Of
railways for abr0gation of the nationai
agreements was asked DIV 3. NJ. Jewell
president of the railway employees de
partmenr OF the American Federation
of Labor.
Mr.. Jewell said the unions needed
until March IA to prepare their rebuff
tai testimony
According TO Mr. Jewell's contention
it WAS not until +. T. Whittier, chair-
man Of Tie carriers committee bpfnrt.
the boar,! had completed the roads.
evidence on January - that 1nc
brotherhood representatives knew lust
what the real objections to the natirl-
Il agreements were.
Mr.. Jewell asserted thar the inter-
yening days had been too few to per
nit proper preparation u evidence
which must be assembled for reply.
and that, If the DrOtherh00dS were
completed to start their Tebuttal be
fore March II the evidence they would
present would necessarily constitute
an incomplete case.
The board took the request under
Amusement and the union leader then
read prepared statement.
Mr.. Jewell offered in his statement Il
proposition that 'hn hoard. if it de
cides not to grant the recess in the
hearing, recognize the principle of col
lective bargaining md turn the whole
case back to negotiations between the
roads and the unions. He made It
plain that this plan was put forward
as an alternative, for further delay in
presentation of the labor interests re
huttal.
If the principle of collective bar
gaining is not recognized" said NJ
Jewell, Eve lrSn none of NEGOTIATING
other rules md safeguards. The Stru1-
ture of the board is destroyed and with
tation act
IF the board faces this nrincirl"
tl4e entire case can he quickly and
easily adjusted. This Is true if tn"
board ouraSeOusly acts to avert tn"
threatened catastrouhe, the ATTEMPT
that Is heing made To destroy union
lahnr as the basis ~ collective bargain
ing"
Suggesting that the roads fight on
the present national agreements Is
merely a smoke screen, Mr.. Jewell
rronosed three ste.G for the board To
tale. rs follows:
First. the board to refer the nation
al agreements TO Joint conference Of
representatives of The railroads and
the brOtherhoOdS. rhe board agreeing
to pass Immediately upon any differ
ences which may arise from such neg0-
lotions.
Second. That the board confer with
both employers AMI employees on es-
Enlistment of boards of adjustment,
IS Contemplated by the transportation
act
Third. That instead Of filing flood
of individual complaints on wages of
unskilled employees. the American As
ISOLATION of Railway Executives.
through w. W. Atterbury, chairman of
its committee on labor, confer with
representatives of the employees affect
ed
Mr.. Jewell stressed his argument
that the real issue tefore the board
was whether the fundamental prin-
cinle 70 collective bargaining was to
stand or fall. and asserted that all de-
lay in adjusting pending questions
could have been avoided If tire employ
ers had either met the union repreSen-
tatives In conference or Joined with
them in establishing boards of adjust
ment. He asserted that this proceed
ure was part of the transportation act
and accused the roads of violating that
law by their alleged failure to adopt
the methods ne advocated.