The New York herald., 1921-12-13
FOR US. INSPECTION
OF LABOR ACCOUNTS
l.. Il. L0ree Would Have Fed
eral Supervision Over Unions
Like Public Utilities.
REVIEWS RAIL HISTORY
Work of Board Assailed in Adj
dress at Annual Dinner of
Downtown League.

A Federal commission that would in
just as the Interstate Commerce Com
mission supervises the accounts of the
public utilities, was urged by l.. f.
Loree. president of the Delaware and
Hudson Railroad. last night, in an ad-
dress at the first annual dinner of the
Downtown League at the Hotel Astor.
Mr. Loree talked on the railroad situa-
tion and labor. He reviewed the rail
situation, taking his own road as an
example of conditions. and covering the
period from just after the civil war to
the present day
Dwelling on the taking over of rait
operation by Director-General McAdoo
in January. 1920, and the recent actions
or the railway labor board, Mr.. Loree
said:
THE findings of the committee, of
whicn the Secretary of the Interior was
chairman, seemed to- be based on some
altruistic hypothesis having no relation
to the long economic history of the in
dustry and, while making substantial ad-
vances in wages. disturbed the relations
of the various divisions Of the service
over a. long period of years. and this has
been the cause of much heartburning
and profound discomfort, the ultimate
status of which is still problematical"
Continuing. he said that the action
of the brotherhoods In threatening a
strike in October seems to have scared
the labor board into a blue funk-the
same sort of funk that produced the
Adamson act"
DOUBTLESS they will try it again." he
went on. III the controversy is skilfully
prolonged so as to become acute about
the time of the expiration Of the United
Mine Workers agreements in April next,
we may look forward to some very
anxious and unhappy hours.
When one has summed up all the i'm
provements made by the Labor Board
the total is almost negligible; the car
rier is still hopelessly enmeshed in red
tape, restrained from measures which
might make for efficiency and economy !:
required to accept arbitrary, .immaterial
and uneconomical classifications to pay
twice for the same service; to pay for
services not performed and to employ
two or more men where oniy one is
needed.
These rules are quite unsuitable TO
Americans and are subversive to morale
all around, especially to that of the
workers, whom they tend to corrupt into
petty tyrants and dishonest slaclers
They are discreditable to the Govern
ment in that they imply, cowardly
trucking to class interest. Organized
labor is like lot of wild animals. and
they will sacrifice their employers and
their most intimate friends without a
qualm."
Jules S. Bach. reviewing the general
business conditions with reference to the
question of taxes, said the situation has
narrowed down to n contest between
the professional politician and the bust
ness world, and that the business world
is aroused and demanding consideration
in the levyng of taxes.
The mater of loading freight at the
terminals was taken up In an address by
Arthur G. McKeever. president of the
Ajax Trucking Company
Through Elbridge +. Hills. counsel for
the league, the members presented a
gold watch TO David Robinson. the
president The prize for the best build
ing erected in the downtown section
during the year was presented TO the
Lawyers Mortgage Company.