Pueblo chieftain., 1921-02-11

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 file n statement prepared by Il.
NJ. Jewell, president of the railroad
employees department of the American
Federation OF Labor. This statement
and an amplihcation by Mr. Walsh.
charged the railroads with being a
party to an attempt at wipinE out col
lcctive bargaining and crushing all
labor organizations. When they had
finished they were unprepared to pro-
coed with the regular rebuttal OF the
railroad evidence objecting to tho ma
tional rules and the hearing went over
until Monday.
Mr.. Jewell's request for time to pre-
pare his testimony met with protest
from the rail representatives but he
proposed to canvass tho situation Fri
day and advise the board Saturday
when he could proceed.
Both side. Ple.sed
that tho hearing would proceed in the
regular manner. w. w. Atterbury.
speaking for the railroad declared that
III there was urgency on January 81.
when ] made the request of the board.
there is still more now. December re-
ports show that $4,000 miles of Aail-
roads did not earn their opera ting eX-
penses and fixed charges for that
month" The railroads have contended
that nbrogation of the agreement
would mean big cut in their operat-
ing expenses.
w. J. Lauck. consulting economist
for the labor men. however. declared
the real issue was not the rules. but
what they concretely sanction = tho
principle of collective bargaining on tho
basis OF union recognition
l. When this principle has received tho
| boards sanction, no further disturb
ances or acute controversies will occur
| on the railroads, he said.
The boards ruling reviewed tho pow
ers delegated to it and declared its
duty to be that of deciding just and
reasonable wages, salaries and work.
ing conditions. 1t said that pending
the outcome of the rules hearing, which
was separated by agreement from tho
wage hearing which ended in the
award of July. the national agreements
promulgated under federal control.
would remain in force. Plea for their
abrogation on account of financial in
ability to pay wages awarded was a
matter outside the boards Jurisdiction.
the ruling said, and should go to tho
interstate commerce commission.
The executives request for pcrmis-
sion to pay common lahorers on tho
basis of the scale prevalent in differ
cnt localities was also denied and
leaves the basic railroad rate at ~
to isia cents an hour,
Points of the Ruling
The ruling pointed out that the trans
portation act provided that it was the
duty OF carriers and employees to con-
fer over disputes and said 1t did not
appear any attempt had been made to
rcadjust the wages of unshillcd labor.
and therefore declared that the board
was without Jurisdiction.
The Jewell and Walsh charges sim
mcred down to declaration OF con-
spiracy of industry to crush the labor
organizations and reiterated charges
that New York banking interests were
so interviewer with the dircctoratcs OF
prominent railroads that these banking
interests controlled ninetytwo of the
leading roads with rs per cent OF tho
railroad mileage. Mr.. Walsh asked
that these interlockinG directors be
called before the board for intcrroga-