Evening journal., 1921-11-14
TOO MUCH REGULATION.

rTNHE Railway Age in its issue advocates the
abolition OF government regulation OF the and
working conditions OF railway employees except those d
recty concerned with the operation OF trains
One Of the worst mistakes made in framing the Trans
portation act" the Railway Age says, that OF sub
iecng to government regulation the wages working
conditions OF railway employees who direct- con-
eerned with the operation OF trains"
There is still and always viii be the Age saws ade-
quae ground for suhjectng the wages and working con
dons Of employees directly concerned with train opera
lion TO government regulation and even for absolutely
prohibiting strikes by them The public should not be
subjected to the suffering and loss Of actual Interrupt
ton OF ransportatione To prevent this special means
should be provided by the government for settling con-
troverses arising between railways and employees directly
concerned with train operation right 10 strike should
be entirely taken away from such employees and there
should be maintained government tribunal to which
all controversies arising between them and the railways
should be carried.
AS to other classes OF railway employees It is asserted
by the Railway Age, there is reason why their
and working conditions should be subject to regu-
aton by the Railroad Labor Board or any other govern
ment body than why the wages and working conditions
OF mechanics in factories, clerks stores or aborers
farms should be subjected to such regulation The
only ground which special regulation OF the wages
and working conditions OF any class OF railway employees
be defended is that strike by them would seriously
interrupt transportation; and such effect would not be
produced by strike OF any or OF employees
except those directly with the operation OF
trains stEke OF employees in the shops would be en-
barrassing and expensise but t would an
mediate interruption OF transportation and would not
seriously interfere with transportation unless quite pro
acted It woud not bring about actual interruption
oi transportation as soon general strike OF the coal
miners who are not railway employees at all and whose
wages and working conditions not regulated by she
eoenment No conceivable strike other classes OF en-
P0ss such as those employed in maintenance Of racks
"ou-u cause an interruption OF transportation
~ may De contended that the wages and working con-
uuons OF all railway employees should be regulated f,r
1o socai reasons But II the wages and working oo,
Aons oi All railway employees should be regulated Do,
ior reasons peculiar to the transportation lndns, h
'oF broad social reasons, then so should the ,s ~
NorAns conditions OF men employed in all other Ind =,
nanstHes There is no PECULIARLY either Legal - .
mic OF me railroad business which iustines sneci,, -
auon OF The wages and working conditions q, a.. :, a.,
employees except those directly concerned with th 80.
lion Of 0pe7
It is recalled that the labor organizations unanmors,
opposed the adoption OF the present labor provision q, a.
Transportation Act and therefore II seems reasonable 4
ss:se sha. they would gladly sec these provisions :
amended that they would apply to most classe
OF railway employees. The employees directly concerne
with the operation OF trains only % per cent