Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-29
SAYS R. RS WASTE
; MILLIONS A DAY
Lauck, Labor Economist, Tells
Federal Board Management
Is Inadequate
TRAFFIC LEAGUE LOSES
nv the Associated Press

CHICAGO, March 2a.--The root Of th-
railroad diffculty Is not in national
agreements, but In the inadequscies of
ma anagrment, declared W. Jett I.auck.
consulting economist Of the railroad
labor organizations. in beginning pre-
sentation Of railroad labor exhibits
before the United States railroad labor
board today.
"ConservativeIy stated, IL railroad
management was characterized by rea :
sonable efY1ciency and had available for
its usc proper amount OF capital or
credit, labor costs would have shown
a radical decline under. national aSree =
ments," Mr.. Lauck declared, ''and sav :
ings in operating expenses Of at least
81 .OOO. .OOO, 900 annually would be made,
or almost 81, ,OOO. 900 q day. We
shall demonstrate this fact concretely
| by reports and analyses which we have
had prepared by reputable railroad
engineers and experts.
Uphoids National Agreements
by the series Of exhibits which I am
about to present, we shall establish the
following facts:
First. The policy Of establishing
nstional agreements or uniform rates
Of pay and working conditions is In
1 CODTUTWbtv WlIH hUu VtV'Nu'ht
In the transportation industry and iu
accordance with the best public policy,
81 shown by the awards Of boards OF
arbitration and the acts and recon
mendations OF other official agencies
! during the pre-war period.
| Second. In other leading industries
Of this country collective bargaining oH
n national scale, and national agree.
mcnts as to working conditions and re-
lations have been found to be, the best
means of stabilizing conditions, pro
noting industrial peace and accelerat
ing business.
Third. That In Great Britain thes'
farts have become so clearly recognized
by both employees and employers tha
national agreements are encouraged y!
the federated industries and the fed
Grafton of trades unions rs a whole an'
the effort is being exerted TO make then
compulsory upon all employers and EN-
p'oycs in a given industry.
Calls for Human Standards
Fourth. That the former railroad
administration in entering into ma
tional agreements, therefore, merely rec
Ognizpd q tendency which had amoS
reached complete development prior Il
the war, and which was sanctioned b!
enlightened opinion both within an
without the transportation industry.
Fifth. That the representatives o
the railroads have given their sanction
to national rates Of pay and workin
conditions of engine and train crews.
Sixth. We shall further show tina
the arguments of the railroads are Tn
same which have been urged III oil pas
years to prevent the establishment 0
human standards in industry. and shal
demonstrate that the railroads are noN
consciously and deliberately taking ad
vantage Of temporary industrial de
preston tn destroy human standard
which are sanctioned by the though
, and practice of the leading industrla
nations Of the world.
Refused Right 10 intervene
The hoard today declined to ADM
the National Industrial Traffic Lsngu
tn the rules case now before the board
Hearing Of the petitioner would not b
} helpful and would not be in the publ
interest" said the board.
The decision also argued that to ad
nit this organization as party con
testant would result in opening th
gates to dozens Of similar bodies an
perhaps proIong the hearing for a year
Following the Doard'S ruilhB' buan'
NJ. Walter, counsel for the league, file
protest with the board declaring th
body could not obtain AZ informatio
necessary 10 fully determine the rule
: dispute " the representatives Of tl
paying public in traffic matters wer
excluded. Mr.. Walter also asked to
heard orally In argument for the leagu
petition.
The boards decision TO exclude I'll
,, league stated that under the transpOrta
! ton act the league was not legally en-
titled 10 be party to the rules hearin
as it had not participated in the fir,
hearing, which resulted in the wal
award of July, 1920.
8 The league. claiming to represent q
per cent of the country'S shipping in
forests. petitioned the board on Mare
| IL 10 be made Il nurlN 10 the hnarlnR.