Albuquerque morning journal., 1921-02-11
RAIL employees
SEE VICTORY IN
BOARD DECISION
Ruling That National Agree
ments Shall Be in Force
Until Completion of Hear
ing Is Satisfactory.


tBy The Associated Pressl i
Chicago, Feb. 1O.-beciSloh ol
the railroad labor board today that
the national agreements shall re-
main in force until completion OF!
the present hearing was character
lied tonight by the railroad en-
ployes as a victory
The ruling came as a surprise
both to railroad and labor camps
and upset plans Of union officials
for a bombardment of the rail-
roads request for immediate ab-
rogation of the agreements.
Fortified with a legal battery
headed by Frank p. Walsh, the Ia-N
Dor representatives. appeared to-
answer the request of w. w. At
terbury, speaking for the railroads,
for quick abolition of the national
agreements. The boards decision
against granting the request left
little for the labor men to do cX-
Cept to Tile a statement prepared
by B. NJ. Jewell, president of the
railroad employees del artment OF
the American Federation of Labor.
Attempt Against UniOn'sm?
This statement and an amplifi-
cation by Mr.. Walsh charged the
railroads with being a party to an
attempt at Wiping out collective
bargaining and crushing all labor
organizations. When they had fin
ished, they were unprepared to
proceed with the regular rebuttal
of the railroad evidence ObjectinG
to the national rules, and the hear
ing went over until Monday.
Mr.. JEWELS request for tine to
prepare his testimony met with
protest from the rail Representa-
lives but lie promised to canvass
the situdtl IN tomorrOW aad advise
the board Saturday when he could
proceed -
Everybody Happy.
Both sides expressed gratifica-
ton that the hearing would pro-
ceed in the regular manner. WV.
Atterbury, speaking for the rail-
roads, declared that "if there was
urgency on January 81, when l
made the request Of the board.
there is still more now. December
reports show that 1l5, 900 miles of
railroads did not earn their Oper-
ating expenses and fixed charges
| for that month"
The railroads have contended
| that abrOgation of the agreement
would mean big cut in their op-
| Grating expenses.
collective bargaining Issue.
w. j. Lauck, consulting econo-
mist for the labor men, however,
declared the real issue was not the
rules, "but what they concretely
sanction-the principle of collec-
tive bargaining on the basis OF
union recognition
when this principle has re-
ceived the boards sanction, no
! further disturbances or acute con-
troversies will occur on the rail
roads," he said.
The boards ldling reviewed the
powers delegated to it and declared
| it's duty to be that of deciding just
and reasonable wages, salaries and
working conditions 1t said that
pending the OUTCOME of the rules
hearing, which was separated by
agreement from the wage hearing
which ended in the award of July
the national agreements promul-
I gated under federal COuntro
would remain in force. Plea fol
their abrogation on account OF II
nancial inability to pay wages
awarded as a matter outside tho
boards jurisdiction, the ruling
said, and should go to the Inter
Estate Commerce commission. TIT
executives request for permission
to pay common laborers on the ba
sis of the scale prevalent in differ
ent localities, was also denied ant
leaves the basic railroad rate a
A 81 to AS IL cents an hour.
Board without jurisdiction.
The ruling pointed out that tn
transportation act provided tha
it was the duty of carriers and EN-
ployes to confer over disputes an
said it did not appear any attemp
had >been made to readjust tn
wages of unskilled labor, and there
fore declared that the board wa
without jurisdiction.
, The Jewell and Walsh charge
simmered down to declaration o
! q conspiracy by industry to crus
the labor unions and relterate
= charges that New York banking in
terests were SO interviewer with tn
directorates of prominent railroad
; that these banking interests con
l trolled ninety-two of the leadin
roads with 76 per cent of the rail
road mileage. Mr.. Walsh aSKe
that these interlocking directors b
called before the board for inter
l rogation. The board took the re
, quest under consideration,
Executive Session Today.
l The labor board will sit in exc
: cutive session tomorrow and Sat
urday and will set the date for con
= tinuing the rules Nearing.
The only comment by railroa
I managers on the boards action wa
a letter from Mr.. Atterbury t
Chairman Barton of the boart
lsaying:
, your board has very properl
J said all questions involving the eS
pense of operation or the necessl
ties of railroads are under tn
Jurisdiction of the Interstate Com
j merce Commission. If there is an
e doubt in the mind of the board c
the correctness of my statement G
h the serious financial condition c
( the railways, l beg you to reques