New-York tribune., 1921-03-19
Eight-Hour Day, Over
time and Representa-
ton Held Fundamental
Principles of Workers
Road Chiefs Split
Over Agreements
Fight of Executives Asso.
ciation Against Nation
al Boards Is Attacked

leaders delved into the records of the
Association of Railway Executives to-
DAY before the Railroad Labor Board
IN an endcavor to show that the rail-
roads fight against national agree
ments was not unanimous, but was
dominated by few officials.
An underlying purpose to establish
the open shop and crush labor organi-
zations was declared to be behind the
hght of the association against national
boards of adjustment. The CONTROVERSY
over these boards in the associations
labor committee was brought out by
cross-examination of T. De Witt Cuy-
ler, chairman of the association. and
MS assistant, Robert S. Binkerd, and
the introduction of voluminous corre-
spondence and reports of the commit
tee into the Labor Board record.
To-day's proceedings marked the be-
ginning of labor's main fight fer con-
tlnuance of the national rules and
working agreements now in effect, the
business and reasonableness OF which
the board is now trying to decide IN
hearings which began January 10.
Labor's "Bill of Rights"
A basic program of eleven points on
which labor would be willing to nego-
tiate national agreements was laid be-
fore the board by B. M. Jewell, presi-
dent of the railway employees depart-
ment OF the American Federation Of
LABOR, when the hearing opened to-day.
Frank P. Walsh, counsel for the unions.
Immediately followed with an exhaus-
tive cross examination of Mr.. Binkerd
and Mr.. Cuyler.
The labor unions "bill of rights. ;"
which Mr.. Jewell said comprised fun
damentals sanctioned by enlightened
pubic opinion as necessary to the we'll
being of employees, called for:
The eight-hour day; proper over
time rates for work in excess Of eight
hours; arrangement of working shifts
Tor reasonable living arrangements by
employees and their families; reason
able rules for the protection Of health
and safety of employees; definition Of
the work of each craft to be per
formed by mechanics and helpers; for
mutation of apprenticeship rules; four
years apprenticeship requirement. for
right of the majority of
each craft to determine what organiza-
ton shall represent them; right to
ances; limiting of craft seniority to
local shops and not permitting inter-
change OF seniority with other shops
or crafts, and right to organize with
out discrimination.
Result of Transportation Act
Mr.. Binkerd's testimony on. cross
examination brought out that the asso-
CATIONS labor committee was the out
growth of the transportation act and
was designed to deal with labor dis
putes. Records brought by Mr.. Bin
kerd were read to show that divided
opinion concerning national boards of
adjustment had existed in the COM
lnittee.
AS a result of bipartisan board ap-
pointed at the suggestion of former
President Wilson in March, 1920, the
boards of adjustment created
under Federal control were continued
with the approval of majority of the
labor committee, it was brought out.
The majority report of the Labor
Committee said that it feared failure
to appoint boards, as provided under
the transportation act, would result in
overlooking the Labor Board with dis
putes, and added that if the roads did
not take advantage of the permissiye
features of the law by agreeing to ad-
justment boards, the efficiency of the
Labor Board might be greatly impaired,
resulting in decisions possibly adverse
to the roads.
The minority, headed by w. w. At.
terbury, vice-president of the Pennsyl-
vania, however, presented three re-
ports at different times which pointed
out that agreement to national adjust
ment boards meant dealing with the
representatives of organized labor, and
declared the non-union man would not
have chance before such a board.
Such recognition of the unions, the
report said, would lead to closed
shop and concentration Of control by
the unions. National boards, one of
the reports said, meant national agree
ments and creation of uniform han
ding of all labor matters, contrary to
to the minority's contention that each
road should be allowed to negotiate
its own agreements.
The minority report, it was shown.
was adopted by member vote of 60
to Al.
s115,000 Yearly for Publicity
Attempts to draw from Mr.. Cuvler
his connection with other business in
terests brought the explanation that
Continued on page sIx)