Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-23

washington, u. u, Aug. -
fate of'the railroad labor board hangs
in the balance as one of the results
of the strike that has upset the trans
portation business Of the country. A
proposal to abolish the board is un-
der consideration and may develop
into n of the big fights in congress
this winter. 1t is also suggested that
the headquarters OFT the board be
moved from Chicago to Washington.
Many labor leaders make no secret
of their desire that the rail-
way labor tribunal be eliminated
as factor in industrial
relations. Samue. Gompers, president
of the Federation of, Labor, is con-
spicuous among them. They are OF
the school which believes hat there
should be no governmental interfer-
ence in he controversies between en-
ployers and employees, which COM
bats the idea that there should be
any Limitation of the right Of work.
ers to strike, and which resists all
propositions looking to compulsory
arbitration.
Some of h more powerful of the
railway executives are wholly in SYM
pathy with these views Of labor chief
tains. They are the bitter enders''
who have been fighting organized la
Dor for many years and who believe
that all conflicts between capital and
labor. should be fought out to a fin
ish. The only kind of industrial
peace that they regard as desirable is
thai which comes when M side or
the other has been beaten into COM
plete submission.
Dor board predicted its failure when
the nannrfnfiNn ont 0f 10Cn MO q
passed. Needless to ay, they have
not done their utmost to make the
operation of the board a On
the contrary they have played much
the same game that the critics of the
government administration of the rail-
roads played-placed every possible
obstacle In the way Of it's functioning
satisfactorily.
Friends of the board in congress
and out, therefore. will not adopt a
policy of non-resistance in the face
of the promised assault upon it. but
will counter with a movement to give
the board increased powers-to put
teeth into the law, as they express
it. They contend that If the board
has not been wholly effective 1t is be-
cause it has not had a fair trial and
because 1t has not had sufficient au-
thority.
History Of the Board.
The board was organized in April,
1920, and its first task was a wage
along the line. This decision was ac-
cepted by the arrangements Of the
various railroads. However, 1t was
while this case was pending that. the
controversy was started that was the
first menace tok the efficacy of the
new law and the new tribunal. During
federal operation Of the roads a ma
tional agreement covering rules and
working conditions had been negotiat-
ed between the unions and the rail-
road administration ana national
boards Of adjustment, bipartisan; in
character, had been established to
under the agreement. AZ soon % the
railroads were returned to private
control It was made clear that the
railway executives would fight the ma
tional agreement. It was also appar-
ent that whereas the new law pro-
v1ded for the. creation of national ad-
justnent boards similar 10 those that
had functioned under government OPP
Grafton the executives were deter
mined that none should be established.
Officials ,of the railway labor or
ga~nizations asked the executives to
meet with them and arrange for the
adjustment boards. The executives
replied that the new law did not
make the establishment OF these
boards compulsory and that they
would not agree to any such agencies
on q national basis. They indicat-
cd q willingness 70 establish regional
boards 81 boards on Individual ratI.
roads or systenis.
These adjustment boards were Tn
tended to handle the almost innumer.
able cases OF minor importance which
would swamp the railroad labor
board nc the t subordinate aagencisa
were not created. rho; railway work.
or ftksref0re charssd tha& the ex-
|ecutiyes were deiibsrately trying 10
downstis iaw md make It I'm.
|possabls tor the railroad lAbpf5 board
to function efictentlys ss a
Whatever qualification thess WAS
Tor 6is charge tf = fact that The
b0ard 49, deluged With tasss which
~ etopid nsver hlye had 70 consider
ana thaf tfiss VA the beSsnntns =;
lbAA .4ooHne bukWeong The ~Ax0cutyAl