The Rock Island Argus and daily union., 1922-05-03

Washington, D. c., May 2.-An
Industrial code to govern all rela-
tions between coal operators and
miners, and all adjustments OF
these relations, may be the basis
of the settlement OF the contrc-
versy that has threatened the fuel
supply OF the country since April
II. Such code Is the distinctive
feature Of the Kenyon bill. now
pending in the senate. which was
the last contribution OF the former
senator from Iowa toward the So
luton Of strike problems.
Senator Kenyon introduced the
bill in February. shortly after the
committee of which ne was chair
man, had concluded its investiga-
ten of the West virginia coal trcu-
bles. Senator Borah Of Idaho, sue
ceeded the Towan as the head OF
the committee that considers labor
legislation, and it is understood
that he is prepared to expedite ac-
tion on the Kenyon bill, or on
SEINE similar measure which will
embody its essential provisions. II
is also stated that President Hard
ing is favorably disposed toward
the bill, but of course ne ene is
authorized to speak for the White
house in such matters and as yet
tho president has gone Re further
than to express his approval of the
general industrial cede idea in one
of his messages to congress-.
The idea back af the proposed
code is that there are certain fund
frzIn ri
should be the basis Of all agree
ments between the operators and
miners as to wages and working
conditions and also geyern all set
Elements ef disputes in the coal
industry which cannot be adjusted
by agreement between the parties
directly in interest At the same
time, it iseargued, these basic prin-
ciples. If applied, will safeguard
the interests of the public, which
is indirectly but virtually eencern-
ed in every clash between the mine
workers and the operators.
In fact, a code Of this character
may be looked upon as bill of
rights for those who participate
directly in the coal industry and
for the public which the industry
serves. The rights which it de-
fines may be likened to the constf-
tutional guarantees of freedom of
person, freedom of speech, freedom
of assembly. ct cetera.
Precedent in Railread Law.
Precedent for establishing such
a code in the coal industry is found
in the transportation act of 1920
under which the railroads were re-
turned to private operation. The
labor provisions of that act, after
creating the railroad labor board
and defining its powers and duties.
laid down certain rules or princi-
pies which should be taken into
consideration by the board in fix
ing wages for railroad employees.
That Is to say, the board should
fix wages that were just and rea-
sonable and in deciding what are
lust and reasonable wages should
consider % the scale of wages
paid for similar work in other in
dustries, t2) the relation between
wages and the cost of living, t3)
the hazards Of the work done, (4)
the training and skill required, (51
the responsibility resting upon the
workers, ts) the character and reg
ularity of employed, and Cd any
inequalities resulting from pre-
vious wage adjustments.
In it's decision in the national
agreements case, the second big
controversy brought before it, the
railroad labor board went a step
further toward the esta ablishment
of a code for the transportation in
dustry. The board promulgated Is
cardinal principles which it de-
creed should be mandatory upon
the negotiation of agreements be-
tween the workers and the individ-
ual railroads and upon the adjust
ment of the grievances arising un-
der such agreements. These prin-
ciples included among other things
the obligation resting upon work
ers to render faithful service, the
right of employees to organize and
to bargain collectively through
such Organization as they elected
to form, the eight-hour day, senior
ity rights, the classification of the
workers and protection of the