Evening journal., 1922-12-08

rates. 1 sought at tnat time III u
very informal way TO have the rail-
way managers so before the Inter-
state Commerce Commission to agree
to heavier reduction on farm pro-
ducts and coal and other basic COM
modities and leave unchanged the
freight tariffs which a very large
portion of the traffic was able TO
bear Neither the manager nor the
commission saw At to adopt the sug-
gestion so we had the horizontal re-
! higher class cargoes and too little to
benefit the heavy tonnage calling
most loudly for relief,
Government operation does not
afford the cure. It was government
operation which brought us to the
very order Of things against which
we now rebel and we are still IL
nu'dating the costs of that supreme
folly.
surely the genius OF the railway
builders has not become extinct
among the railway managers. New
economies. new eniciences in co-op-
ration must be found The fact
hat labor takes so TO 60 per cent.
Of total railway earnings makes lin
Stions within which to effect econ
amies very difficult, but the demand
Is no less insistent on that account
"The President then urged merger
II the railroads. pootng OF equip
ment and a central agency to aid in
their financing and TO suggest econ
omles. Then turning TO the I'M
portant railroad labor board prob
lem, he said:
1T is vitality important that some
such agency should be guaranty
against suspended operation. The
public must be spared even the
threat Of discontinued service. '''
THE labor board. itself is not so
constituted as best to serve the
pubic interest. with six partisan
members on a board of nine, three
partisans nominated by the en-
ployes and three by the railway
managers. It is evident that the
partisan view is maintained in all
decisions.
Only the public group OF three Is
free 10 function in unbiased de-
cisions. Therefore the partisan mem
bership may well be abolished and
decisions should be made by an
impartial tribunal.
Il am well convinced that the
functions Of this tribunal could he
much better carried on here in
Washington. Even were IL to be |
continued as a separate tribunal !
there ought TO be contact with the /
I. C. c. which has supreme author
ity in the rate making to which |
wage cost bears an indlssoluble re-
lationship. Theoretically, a fair and
living wage must he determined
quite apart from the employers
earning capacity but in practice in
the railway service they are insep-
arabic The substitution Of a labor
division in the 1. c. c., made up
from its membership to hear and
decide disputes relating to wages
and working conditions which have
failed establishment by proper COM
mittees created by the railways and
their employees offers more effec-
tive plan.
1T need not be surprising that
here is dissatisfaction over delayed
hearings and decisions by the pres
ent board. when every trivial dis
pute Is carried TO that tribunal. The
aw should require the railroads and I
heir employees to institute means
and methods to negotiate between
themselves their differences, limit !
Ing appeals to the government tri-
bunal disputes OF such character
are likely to affect the public
Welfare.
This suggested substitution will I
INVOLVE a necessary increase in the
OF the commission. !
four. to constitute the
abor division. II the suggestion APP {
reals to the Congress = will he well {
o specify that the labor division ]
hall be constituted of the repre- I
of the four rate-making
territories. thereby assuring a tri I
Dunal conversant with the tribunals !
ct wish I could bring to you tn
'recise recommendation for pre- ]
entlng strikes which threatens the 7
'elAdlt VI NhS PtoPAD wiz AASAeSN {
ublic safety. r
public interest demands that :
nipple power shall be conferred upon
he labor tribunal. whether It is the
resent board or the suggested sub a
titute. TO require It's rulings to be
ccepted by both parties to a dis
uted question. :,
Let there be no confusion about =
he purpose of the suggested confer =,
rent to make decisions effective. =
here can be no denial OF rights of u
lilway workman nor railway man 1
gers. No man can be denied his q
ght to labor when and where he u
leases. but since the government n
ssumes TO safeguard his interests
lille employed in an essential public r
srvice the security OF society itself 81
emands his retirement from the q
ervice shall not be so timed and re- W
ted as to effect the destruction Of q
rat service. This vitality essential Ii
,bHc transportation service de- v
Fading so much Of brain and Drawn n
, much for efficiency and security. b
lght to offer the most attractive
orking conditions and the highest a
: wages paid to workmen in any r,
s,
I'VE have assumed so great a re- N
in. necessary regulation ~
lat we unconsciously have assum- F
l the responsibility for maintained G,
,rvice; therefore the lawful power tr
the enforcement of decisions is m
ecessary to sustain the majesty OF
overnment and to administer TO the nj
ublic welfare" m