Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-19

independent consideration is revealed
! by both operators and mine workers IN
the provision in the Cleveland agree
ment so recently made. The govern
ment will gladly cooperate with the
industry in this program so far as 1t Is
to the public interest so to DO, put
have an unalterable conviction that no
lasting settlement or worthwhile re-
suits will ensue unless we may have a
government commission. Independent OF
the industry, clothed with authority by
the congress to search deeply. so that
it may advise as to fair wages and as
to conditions of labor and recommend
the enactment of laws to protect the
public in the future.
Must Prevent Suffering.
1.-The almost total exhaustion Of coar.
the crippled condition of the railways,
the distressed situation that has arisen
and might grow worse in u great
cities due to the shortage of anthracite,
the suffering which might arise In the
northwest through failure to meet win.
ter needs by lake transportation. all
these. added to the possibility of out
rageOus price demands, in spite OF the
most jealous voluntary efforts of the
government to restrain them. make II
necessary to ask you to consider at
once some form Of temporary control
of distribution and prices.
| THE administration earnestly mas
sought to restrain profiteering n 70
secure the righful distribution of such
coal as has been available in this emer-
gency. There we're no legal powers
for price control. There has been cor
dial cooperation in many fields. a fine
revelation of business conscience
stronger than the temptation to profit
by a peoples misfortune. There have
been instances of flat refusal. l rejoice
to make grateful acknowledgement to
those who preferred to contribute 70
a nations distress.
Wants Temporary Agency
IF it may have your approval | rec
ommend immediate provision for a tenn
porary national coal agency with needed
capital. to purchase. sell and distribute
coal which is carried in interstate ship
ments. / do not mean that all inter-
state coal shall be handled by such a
federal organizations: perhaps none will
be necessary; but it will restore it's
capital TO the public treasury and will
be the instrumentality of guarding the
public interest where private conscience
is insensible to a public need.
This proposal does not relate TO
any possible employment in intrastate
shipments. Price restrain and equit-
able distribution in intrastate ship
ments is a responsibility Of the states
own government. In such amiable &C
tivities as have been carried on thus
far. the federal government has en-
deavored to re-establish the authority
and responsibility In the states which
was undermined in the necessary cen
tralization of authority during the
world war.
Rail Strike Added Trouble
THE public menace in the coal sit
uatiOn was made more acute and more
serious at the beginning Of July by
the strike of the federated shop crafts
in the railroad service-a strike against
a wage decision made by the railroad
labor board-directly affecting approx
iimately 100000 men. The justice Of
the decision is not for discussion here.
The decision has been lost sight of In
subsequent developments. In any
event, it was always possible to appeal
for rehearing and the submission of
assumption that a government agency
, of adjustment deciding unjustly will be
quick to make right any wrong.
THE railroad labor board was Gre
ated by congress for the express pur-
pose of hearing and deciding disputes
between the carriers and their en-
/ ployes, so that 10 controversy need
lead to an interruption of interstate
transportation.
1T was inevitable that many wage
disputes should arise. Wages had
mounted upward, necessarily and justly,
during the war u%pheaval, likewise the
cost of transportation, so that the
higher wage might be paid. 1t was in
evitable that some readjustment should
follow. Naturally, these establishments
were resisted. The administrative
government neither advocated nor OPP
posed. 1t only held that the labor board
was the lawful agency Of the govern
ment to hear and decide disputes and
it's authority must be sustained. as the
law contemplates. This must be so,
whether the carriers or the employees
ignore its decisions.
Upheld by Court
"Tnhappily. a number Of decisions
of this board had beer ignored by the
carriers. In only one instance. how
ever. had a decision. challenged by a
carrier, been brought to the attention
of the department of justice and this
decision was promptly carried TO the
courts and has recently been sustained
in the federal court of appeals.
THE public had no knowledge of
the ignored decisions in other eases.
because they did not hinder transpor-
tation. When these failures of many