Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-15
Strengthen or Abolish 1t

XPERlENCE over a period OF TWO years
L must convince most thoughtful people
that Congress should give the Railroad La
Dor Board measure OF power for the en-
forcement OF its orders, OF should wipe that
agency out entirely. Nothing could be more
anomalous than n Federal commission en-
dowed with the authority to assume juris-
diction over railway wage issues, yet with
cut authority TO carry out the policies which
its inYes tigations may demand
AS matters now stand, either the rail-
roads or the railway employees may ignore
or lout the rulings of this board Under
tho decision of Federal Judge Page the
board may not even undertake an inquiry
into wage dispute unless both parties TO
that dispute ask for IL Nor may the board.
upon its own initiative, assume jurisdiction
over q wage controversy.
In other words, the Railroad Labor Board.
according to the courts Interpretation OF
its status, is merely polite and convenient
group OF gentlemen. receiving respectable
salaries from the government to give advice
to the railroads and railroad employees when
employer and employe go into court voiun-
tariy and ask for it. That advice may not
be given gratuitously, and once it is given
either party receiving il may forget it with
absolute impunity.
All the power the board possesses, II
seems, is that granted to ii by reason OF the
privilege IL enjoys OF appealing TO the pub
lie. The board may spread before tho peo-
PIE any and all facts II may have about
givan issue, also its ruling upon the facts.
II public opinion LS)es not thereupon per-
suade or force those involved to comply
with the decisions of the board there is
nothing more that may be done about it.
one railroad after another has refused
to bc bound by the rulings of this govern
ment agency, and II the railroads fail TO ac-
ccpt its Judgment, there is no reason why
the employees should be expected TO do so.
Moreover, the courts have held that those
who have ignored such rulings are acting
wholly within their legal rights, which makes
tho position of tho board all he more en-
harrassing.
II is quite true that in drafting the sec
ton of the transportation act creating the
Railroad Labor Board, Congress deliberate
ly left out OF tho Legislation any penalty
clause. II was not meant tina, the board
should have genuine power OF enforcement,
nut apparently it intended that it
should have ample power 70 assume juris-
dtc;ion over any or all wage disputes in the
transportation industry. Certainly il was
intended TO give it the right 10 review case
upon the petition OF one party to dispute
whether the other party should or should
not be willing.
Many leaders in Congress. at the time the
law was enacted, strongly urged that penal
ties be applied 10 recalcitrant parties 20
railway wage controversies. but there were
majOrities in both the House and Senate
which held back. Such an enactment as
was proposed. they agreed, meant compul-
sorry arbitration and enforced acceptance OF
arbitration awards. This was held 10 be
Industrial Servt,ndc' in that il would deny
20 labor the righ, TO strike and TO capital
the right to discharge undesirable employees
Howcy"r hal may b." Congress owes it
10 itself and to the board which it has
created, 10 ciothe that board with sufficient
power 20 make its rulings effective or to
abolish the whole business