The Washington times., 1922-08-18

powers for price control. There has
been cordial cooperation In many
fields, a fine revelation Of business
conscience stronger than the tempta.
ton to profit by a peoples misfor.
tune. There have been instances OF
fiat refusal. rejoice to make CRATE
full acknowledgment to those who
preferred to contribute to national
welfare rather than profit by a na.
tons distress.
Urges National Coal Agency.
II II may have your approval,
recommend immediate provision for
temporary national coal agency,
with needed capital. to purchase.
sell. and distribute coal which Is car.
ried In Interstate shipment. do
not mean that all interstate coal shall
be handled by such a Federal or.
ganization: perhaps none will be
necessary: but II will restore its
capital to the Public Treasury and
will be the instrumentality Of guard.
ing the public interest where private
conscience Is insensible to a public
need.
This proposal does not relate to
any possible employment In intra
state shipments. Price restraint
and equitable distribution in intra
state shipments is a responsibility
Of the States own government. In
such voluntary activities as have
been carried on thus far the Fed
eral Government has endeavored
to- re-establish the authority and
responsibility in the States which
was undermined in the necessary
Capitalization Of authority durins
the world war.
The public menace in the coaI
situation was made more acute and
more serious at the beginning oi
July by the strike Of the FEEDER
ated Shop Crafts in the railroad
service-a strike against a wage
decision made by the Railroad. La
Dor Board, directly affecting ap
proximately 400. 900 men. The
Justice OF the decision is not fol-
discussion here. The decision has
been lost sight of in subseauen,
Developments. In any event, II
was always possible to appeal for
rehearing and the submission OF
new evidence, and IL IL always q
safe assumption that q Government
agency OF adjustment deciding un
Justly will be quick to make right
Decisions Arc Ignored.
The Railroad Labor Board wss
created by Congress for the ex
press purpose Of hearing and de-
Gliding disputes between the car
riers and their employees, 30 that
no controversy need lead to an IN
terruption In interstate Transports
ton.
1t was inevitable that many wage
disputes should arise. Wages had
mounted upward. necessarily and
justly, during the. war upheaval,
likewise the cost Of transportation.
SO that the higher wages might
be paid. 1t was inevitable that
some readjustments should follow.
Naturally these readjustments were
resisted. The administrative Gov.
ernment neithr advocatd nor op.
posed. II only held that the La.
Dor, Board was the lawful agency
Of the Government to hear and
decide disputes, and it's authority
must be sustained, as the law con.
templates. This must be so,
whether the carriers or the I'm.
ployes ignore its decisions.
Unhappily a number Of decisions
Of this board had been ignored by
the carriers. In only one instance,
however. had a decision, challenged
by q 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 or the Executive had no
knowledge OF the ignored decisions
In other cases. because they did not
hinder transportation. When these