The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-12-08
Text of President Ha7,ding1S Message

against suspended operation. The
public must be spared even the threat
Of discontinued service.
THE labor board, set forth is not
so constituted as best to serve the
public interest. With six partisan
members on a board of nine, three
partisans nominated by the employees
and three by the railway managers,
it is inevitable that the partisan view
point is maintained throughout hear
! ings and in decisions handed down.
Only the public group Of three is free
to function in unbiased decisions
Therefore the partisan membership
may well be abolished and decisions
should he made by an impartial
tribunal.
Substitute Tribunal
81 am well convinced that the
functions of this tribunal could be
much better carried nhere in Wash
ington. Even were it to be continued
as a separate tribunal there ought
TO be contact with the interstate
commerce commission which has
supreme authority in rate making to
which wage cost bears an indis-
soluable relationship.
Theoretically. fair and living
wage must be determined quite apart
from the employers earning capacity.
put in practice in the railway service.
they are inseparable. The board ad-
vanced rates to meet increased rates
both determined by the Government
is proof enough.
Wants Labor Tribunal
"A substitution of a labor depart
rent in the interstate commerce. com
mission made up from its membership
to hear and decide labor disputes re
lating to wages and working condi-
tons which have failed of adjustment
by proper committees represented by
the railways and their employees offers
a more effective plan.
lit need not be surprising that
there is dissatisfaction over delayed
hearings and decisions by the present
board when every trivial dispute Is
carried to that tribunal. The law
should require the railroads and their
eds to negotiate between themselves
their constantly arising difference.
limiting appeals to the Government
tribunal to disputes of such charac-
ter as are likely to affect the public
welfare.
This suggested substitution will
involve a necessary increase in the
membership Of the commission, prob
ably by four. TO constitute the labor
division II the suggestion appeals to
Congress. il would be well to specify
that the labor division shall be con
stituted Of representatives Of the four
rate-making territories, thereby as
surfing a tribunal conversant with tt
conditions which obtain in the diff
ent rate making sections Of the cou
try.
Strikes Menace Welfare
81 wish | could bring to you pr
else recommendation for the proven
ton Of strikes which threaten the
welfare of the people and menace pub
lie safety.
Public interest demands that ample
power shall be conferred upon the
labor tribunal whether 1t is the
present board Of the suggested sub
stitute to require it's findings TO be
accepted by both parties to a disputed
question.
Let there be no confusion about the
purpose Of the suggested conferment
Of the power to make decisions effec-
tive. There can be no denial OF con-
stitutional rights OF either railway
workmen or railway managers. No
man can be denied his right TO labor
when and how he chooses or to cease
to labor when he so elects, but since