The Colorado statesman., 1922-11-11
PRESIDENT HARDING AND HIS
CABINET ARE CONSIDERING
MANY SUGGESTIONS.
ACTION BY CONGRESS LIKELY
AboIishing of Railway Labor Board
and Enactment of Legislation Like
Canada's Industrial Disputes lnves-
tigation Law Proposed.
BY JAMES p. hoRNApAY

members of his cabinet are giving
careful consideration to many sug-
gestiOns as TO how the country may
obtain II larger measure of freedom
fl ON labor troubles. II is the pres
ent intention of the President, IL Is
well understood. to discuss some of
the more pertinent of these sugges-
tiOns in his address to congress in
December. There Is apparently n
general demand throughout the cOun-
try that congress shall write into the
law of the land some new plan for
settling disputes between capital and
labor. 1t is n question whether much
can be done with the subject at the
short session which will begin in De
cember and end on March 4. In some
quarters there is already talk of an
extra session next spring, which would
be devoted entirely to the subject of
industrial peace.
There is somewhat insistent de-
mand that the administration shall
favor legislation providing for COM
pulsory arbitration, but it is reason
ably certain that the administration
will not lend its Endorsement to such
a program. Even If the executive de-
partment should advocate compulsory
arbitration, it is a question, it is as
serted, whether congress could be per
suaded to follow the leadership of the
President. AS the situation presents
itself at this time, two outstanding
proposals are being considered.
l. The repeal of the provisions of
the transportation act of 1920, under
which the railroad labor board was
created
.. The enactment of legislation pro-
viding for some such plan as IS in
operation in Canada-the enactment
of an industrial disputes investigation
law.
Stands by the Labor Board.
Thus far the Harding administra-
tion has not indicated that it has lost
faith in the railroad labor board. To
the contrary, the President has said
publicly on several occasions during
the last two months that he felt that
the board had justified its existence.
Supporters of the railroad labor board
not only would not like it abolished.
but would like to see its powers broad
ened and see it removed to Washing
tion and set down alongside the inter-
state commerce commission. 1t is
certain, however, that the board will
be real issue before congress when
that body proceeds to the cOnsidera-
tion of legislation relating to indus
trial disputes.
hn icI tf,N,,
was before congress early in 1920,
many good things were said about the
Canadian plan for settling labor trou-
bles, but the organized workingmen in
the United States were not ready at
that time to accept the Canadian law.
and so congress dropped that plan and
set up the railroad labor board. The
situation has undergone change. Or
ganized wOrllingmen in the United
States, and particularly organized rail
road employees, are now very gem
orally inclined to look with favor on
the Canadian plan, so 1t is asserted.
Canadian Law Liked.
One of the arguments now being
put forth in support of Canada's law
! is that the shopmen employed in Can
ada by international railroads-rail-
roads that have part of their mile
age in the United States and part in
| Canada-did not strike when their
union brethren in the United States
| quit work. The international rail-
roads of Canada reduced the wages
of their shOpmen, but instead of strlk-
ing the shopmen applied for boards
of inquiry and Cancellation under the
Industrial disputes act. This ma
chinery has thus far prevented any
walkouts on the Canadian railroads.
Under the Canadian law a board Is
appointed for each individual dispute.
1t consists of three members, one
named by the employees directly con-
cerned, one by the company, and the
third, If these two shall fail to agree
by the government. The awards of
these boards are not compulsory. After
the award under the Canadian law
has been made, either side may re
fuse to accept it. But 1t Is asserted
that the law has maintained Industrial
peace throughout Canada since 1t was
enacted; and the law has of course
had its trial through the after-the-war
reconstruction period-a period that
has produced many labor troubles in
Canada and elsewhere.
1t is certain that when congress con.
venes, either In special session In No
vember or in regular session in De
cember, there will be a flood of bills
proposing ways for settling strikes
The administration Is obviously am
bilious TO have program of its own
program that will appeal to the
country and to congress. 1t is with
this In mind that the President is tax
ing counsel from week to week with
men whose advice is worth listen
Ing to.
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