The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-10-27

disputes. Thereupon, two big in
dustrial conferences were called by
President Wilson, the second of
whichsubmitted a very elaborate re-
port that provided industrial boards
and courts. The general scheme has
never been put into effect, though it
may be heard from again, since Mr..
Hoover was at the head of the con-
ference. Nevertheless, the principle
of representation by "the party of
the third part" as recommended by
the second industrial conference,
and as it functioned under the direc-
ton of the War Labor Board, was
incorporated in the Transportation
Act, passed by Congress last year. In
this law the Government agreed to
"hold the bag" for the railroads, by
which it is meant that certain re-
turn on invested capital was guar
anteed out of the public treasury.
The railroads sought and secured this
comforting support from sthe party
of the third part" and in granting it
the Government Stipulated that it
would fix rates and wages and gen
orally regulate" the railroads in
the interests of the whole C ountry.
The railroads executives were de-
lighted. The more than 100000
railroad operators were happy in
having at last formally enlisted the
Government, not only in the recogni-
ton of their brotherhoods, but in
standing back Of them in their wage
troubles. And up to that the pa
ternal Government was as popular
as Santa Claus at Christmas.
After that the United States La
Dor Board issued certain orders re-
garding wages, and the Pennsylvania
road an dthe Erie road are charged
with openly violating the orders of
the Board, by attempts to carry out
wage reductions in violation of the
orders of "the party of the third
part" 1t is very apparent that
some Of the railroad officials reverted
to methods of dozen years ago
when it was popular-and safe-to
tell the Government to ego to-" But
the railroad officials were not alone
in this reputation Of the position of
the Labor Board. The Board order
ed wage reductions of IL per cent
as Of July 1. The threat followed,
backed by railroad workmen and
their brotherhoods Of a general rail-
road strike. Thus the Wage earners
joined the railroad executives in
placing themselves in open revolt
against the Government, whose adj
vent into the regulation of their
affairs they welcomed only few
months ago. No matter what the
outcome of the "strike" may be
there still stands out above all else
the question as to whether "the party
of the third part" is going to be, or
is not going to be, the positive, de-
terming factor to decide matters
in connection with the operation of
the railroads. All parties remind
one Of the man who would prove the
spelling of word ythe dictionary,
and who, when the dictionary de-
.ided against him, insisted that "the
dictionary was wrong.
s'The party Of the third part" is
seeking to function In these rail
road controversies in the interests
of over hundred million people, and
it is important to determine whether
this new policy in industrial relations
is going to prove effective. If it is
not to prove effective, then why
should the Government pay millions
and millions of dollars to railroad
stockholders in order to make good
their expected dividends; then why,
also, should the Government attempt
to maintain maximum wage scales
for railroad workmen? These are
questions one hears debated in Gov
eminent circles. 1.-THE party of
the third part" is as anxious as ever
was Grover Cleveland to know,
where are we att"
AMERICAN VALUATION
Chairman Fordney of the Ways
and Means Committee, which framed
the tariff bill that passed the House,
has made an enlightening statement
the much-discussed Gamer
lean valuation" feature of the bill.
Mr.. Fordney certainly has put his
Thought ''sin nutshell" He says:
"Why do foreigners who export to
this country or people of this coun-
try who import from foreign coun-
tries under-Value Because they
pay less, duty. Profit is made in
the duty of they car import at fifty
cents on the dollar of the real value
of the goods. They say we cannot
take care of some articles of import
because we do not know their values.