The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-02-17
RAILROAD BOARD
.RECESSES FOR ONE
MONTH in HEARING
WAGE REDUCTIONS
BROTHERHOOD REPRESENTATIVE
URGES SETTLEMENT OF ALL
DIFFERENCES BY COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING SYSTEM

Chicago, Feb. ia recess OF one
month in the hearing before the rail-
road labor board on the application
OF railways for abrogation of the ma
tional agreements, was asked today
by b. NJ. Jewell, president of the rail-
way employees department Of the
American Federation of Labor Mr..
Jewell said the unions needed until
March Il to prepare their rebuttal tes-
timony.
Immediate application Of the prin-
ciple of collective bargaining TO the
railroad labor situation was advo-
Gated by -Mr. Jewell. He said that only
by such means could the present con-
troversy be settled and national
crisis be avoided.
Suggesting that the roads fight on
the present national agreements Is
merely n smoke screen, Mr.. Jewell
proposed three steps for the board TO
take as follows.
First-The board 10 refer the nation
al agreements TO a joint conference
Of representatives of the railroads and
the brotherhooas, the board agreeing
to pass Immediately upon any differ
ences which may arise from such
negotiations.
Second-That the board confer with
the employers aid employees on the
| 80 .,lr ~ aIt ,utr
contemplated by the transportation
act.
Third-That. ir-tead OF filing q
flood of individual complaints on
wages OF unskillsd employees, the
American, Association OF Railway Exc
cutives through W. w. Atterbury
chairman Of its conDnittee on labor
confer with representatives OF the
employees effected.
Mr.. Jewell said thae such pro
gram of negotiation would establish
the principle OF collective bargaining
in the railroad industry. expedite the
cases before the board and prevent
the roads from nullifying the boarPs
efforts by filing an overwhelming mas
OF cases. He pointed out that the as
sociation OF railway executives would
meet here tomorrow and said the
time was opportune for an immediate
conference.
Mr.. Jewell stressed his argument
That the real issue before the board
was whether the fundamental prin
ciple OF collective bargaining was e
stand or fall and asserted that al
delay in adjusting pending questions
could have been avoiied II the employ
ers had either met the union repre-
sontatives in conference or jnnc,
with them In establishing boards o
adjustment. He asserted that tho pro
cedure was part OF the transporta
ton net and accused the roads 0
violating that law by their ailege.
failure 10 adopt iho methods he nd
yocatot.
"Wo are not fighting foY perpetua
ton of any unreasonable rules o
working conditions" ne said. 1--WE d.
. not wish 20 cause the roads unrsas
1 onabte expense and never have sup
poTtci any Iuto 'ndA wv th'Ss
S Ne. Jewell charged that organize
propaganda was being directed a
J the board az tbs bs;1est OF the road
! and adied
4 I'VE have boes astoundcd that you
T honorable body has not taken judicia
notice OF this propaganda. The chair
z man referred last wednesday to res
olutions received trom chambers q
: commerce, and other commercial eI
gani1ations.
wv consder such efforts as gros
|. and inconcdyable improprietios. Tn
!, position of this board Is analogous I
4 that of the supreme court Of uh
n United States. Any such attempts {
r affect SIS decisions WI be treated q
contcrndt of court and incur drast
= penalties
!. MIR. Jewell said that In showing VI
c willingness 10 negotiate on nations
L scale the roads are realizing the
= own bargaining power and decentr1e
,. izing that OF the pnious| that the en-
ployers were trying TO crush the X
cal organizations, especially those n
Gently formed. and thus weaken IN