Evening star., 1921-04-15
RAIL LABOR BOARD
DECISION FAVORED
BY BOTH PARTIES
Settlement of Disputes Seen
in Abrogation Of National
Agreements.
UNION LEADERS DECLARE
MANY PRINCIPLES UPHELD
Road Executives and Employees Di-
rected to Agree on New Work
ing Rules by July l.
BY the Associate Press.

AA6 AsuASS W guy -
BY the Associated Press
CHICAGO. April 15.-Both railroad
executives and labor leaders today de-
clared the decision of the United States
Railroad Labor Board abrogating the
national agreements would materially
advance the effort to arrive at an agree
ment satisfactory to all parties. The
board directed individual roads and their
employees to confer and agree upon new
working rules by July /.
Labor representatives said many of
the sixteen basic principles laid down
in the boards decision to govern the
conferences on new working agree
ments. especially the eight-hour day and
the right of the employees to organize
and select their own representatives,
include principles they have been fight
ing for Railway executives said that
the decision recognized their contention
that many of the rules should not have
national application.
Unions Hold Conference.
The unions held a conference on the
finding this morning, their meeting being
presided over by b. M. Jewell, presi-
dent OF the railway employees depart
ment OF the American Federation of
Labor.
unions and the conference committee
Of the Association of Railway Execu-
tives would issue statements later
in the day.
The decision affects members of
eighteen unions, including all those
amliated with the railway department
|of the American Federation of Labor.
In this group are the big four" the
organizations of engineers, fremen,
tra1nmen and conductors. 1t also af-
fects telegraphers, clerks, shop en-
pfoyes. maintenance Of way employees.
sheet metal workers. switchmen and
those members Of the national or
gamzation of masters, mates and
plots OF america. who are employed
by railroads
When the abrogation of the national
aereements was proposed several
months ago by W. w. Atterbury, vice
pre4idenf Of the Pennsylvania ran.
road, ~ was declared that the national
A&Eeements were costing theS rail.
roads $30o.0o0,00o a year, because Ger.
tam economies in shop conditions
could not be put into effect under 4he
old rules. ~"s
A meeting of the conference com.
Mi.aee OF the Association Of Railway
executives. OF which E. T. Whittier r.
chairman; was called for today to dis
cuss the application Of the decision
20 the individual roads. The execu.
ives side Of the argument in favor
OF abrogation Of the old national
aSreements was presented to the board
through Mr.. Whittier.
Opens Way for New Rules.
There can be no question that the
decision has opened the way for more
satisfactory rules and working condt.
ttons than are now in effect" said
samuel Q. Dunn. editor Of the Rail-
way age. today. "and should result
OF labor and a reduction Of railroad
expenses. The decision is partly =
victory for the railroads and nartIv
Tor the employees. What the outcome
VIII be SO far as railroad efficiency is
nccsneG eoces io h. oepends seed upon the confer
The decision came Just before the
terms OF three members of the hoa I'd
expired at midnight last night. Theaa
men. appointed for one year when
the the board was organized. are Henry
sentative. and ]. ]. Forester, Wash-
L. Park. Chicago. a railway repre-
sentatives of the general public. W
ington. d. c.. one Of the labor mem
bers. Their successors have not been
appointed and their places will be
board failed to specify that members
should continue in Office until their
SUCCESSORS qualified
Last nights decision had nothing
to do with the various wage confar.
ences which have been instituted nv
various railroads within the last few
weeks, and some Of which have al.
ready resulted in disputes that have
reached the board The rules and.
ing will, affect pay envelopes onIv
in SO far as it results in modifica tion
OF regulations concerning what con-
stftutes overtime. defining Just when
railroad man starts work and SINH
lar subjects.
Principles Outlined.
The sixteen principles outlined
| were as follows:
II. An obligation rests upon man
| agement. upon each organization of
| employees and upon each employe To
| render honest. efficient and eco
| nomical service.
y. The spirit Of cooperation be-
ftween management and employees be-
ing essential to efficient operation,
both parties will 30 conduct them
selves as to promote this spirit.
| 3. MANAGEMENT having the re-
| economical operation, the rules will
not be subversive Of necessary disci-
pline.
to organize for lawful objects shall
( not be dented. interfered with or OBJ
| structed.
"6 The right of such lawful or
! ganization to act toward lawful OBJ
| jects through representatives Of its
own choice. whether employees Of a
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