The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-03-23
ant in the wages Of employees was i'm

i
cent in the wages Of employees was I'M
perative.
1t is reassuring to learn that the rep
resentatives of the workers ana those
of the railroad have agreed that Inc
dispute shall not interfere with trallic,
thus insuring the rights Of the genera
public. Both sides agree to submit !
the dispute to the labor board at ohi-
cago and to abide by its findings ana
decision.
There are also signs Of trouble on
the Delaware, Lackawanna ana WEST
ern railroad, where the company pro-
poses to reduce the wages OF. unsKlHeu
workers ranging from cut OF ~
1912 cents an hour, to go INTO %
feet April 16. 1t is to be hoped ina
the union officials and the raliroao
managers of this company VIII follow
!. the move of the New York central
workers and officials by referring tnelr
dispute to the federal railroad lapor
board.
If a spirit of Cancellation can pc
brought about In these multiplying
disputes between employers ana en-
iployes--disputes which, If allowed 70
grow, will prove disastrous to the m
terests of labor and capital alike
strikes, which have been curse to the
world in general. will soon cease to ex-
| ist-Miami Herald.
labor Board ignored
When the railroad labor board was
established a year ago, by the federai
| TRANSPORTATION act, the trainers OF the
Il To re
compulsory in case of labor disputes.
The railroad brotlerhoods objected.
/ Accordingly congress weakened the
authority of the labor board, leaving
it optional with both capital and labor
to avail themselves Of its services. 1t
was expected, however, that the labor
board would be invoked in case or any
revision of wages or working condi-
lions.
Il Now the brotnerhoods are wonder
ing whether they did not make mis-
take. They had assumed that If a
J board with full powers worked to any
body's disadvantage. it would be to
/ theirs. They did not look upon the
) board as possible protector of their
. Interests. They wanted to be able to
5 iuse it or ignore it, as they chose. 1t
! happens that the first party to ignore
{ it is the railroads themselves. They
thave deliberately abolished their labor
committee, formed to function along
with the federal labor board, and have
/ started cutting wages independently
l | of each other and without any refer
2 ence to the board.
1 The railroads may have mora
5 right to lower wages, and they may
2 have a legal right to lower wages. ant
t ithey may have legal right to ignore
t | the labor board in this way, and thus
e evade public supervision under the
: Esch- Cummins law so far as labor !:
i concerned. But the effect is likely
Ito be disastrous. If any railroad car
f cut wages at it's pleasure, the employ
: ees of any railroad can demand highe
h wages or shorter hours at their pleas
a ure, and strike If they fail to get wha
r they want.
e The country has had enough of tina
o sort of thing. If wages are to be re
o Iduced, they should be reduced a
If scientifically and uniformly as the
o were raised, and reduced with tn
:, sanction of governmental authority.
n the railroads insist on returning t
e the old, lawless course of procedur
there will be demand that congress
o establish CO mpuls Dry arbitratio
n Every disagreement should be arbi
is ltrated-Tuscaloos News.
ir A Fruitful Measure
t.. It is a pleasure to note that an IN