Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1924-12-19

sent the railroads, three members the
employees and three comprising the
so-called public group"
Railroad Men Criticize Board
This criticism comes not only from
the employees, but from railroad man.
ayers as well. Many railroad officers
frankly say in private conversation,
but not for publication, that several
members of the Railroad Labor Board
are almost entirely devoid of the nee
essary experience to qualify them to
sit in judgment on the multiplicity of
problems arising between the carriers
and their employees.
This criticism is principally direct
ed at the so-called labor" and "pub-
lie" groups. It is charged that the
appointments to these two groups
have been guided almost wholly by
political considerations and without
any regard to carrying out the pro-
visions of the law. It is alleged that
places on the board have been regard
ed as a haven of refuge and a sine
cure for political lame ducks.
Not Represented On Board
The transportation act provides
that the employees shall have a say
so in the naming of the three mem
bers comprising the so-called ''labor
group" The employees complain that
they have never been given an oppor-
tunity to exercise this legal right, and
as q consequence there are classifi-
cations of employees wholly without
representation on the board ond no
one of the board who has q compre-
hensive understanding of their prob
lens. This works hardship not only
on the employees, but on the railroads
as well, it is pointed out.
President Might Help Situation
A high officer of one of the rail-
road employees organizations noted
for its conservatism said to Interna-
tional Labor News Service that Pres
ident Coolidge has an excellent chance
to demonstrate his announced deep
interest in the welfare of the pro-
ducers of the nation and at the same
time render a service to the public
mad the railroads by making a house.
cleaning of the Railroad Labor Board
by means of appointments in accord
and the railroads by making a house.
litical considerations.
The employees officer who made this
statement to international Labor
News Service qualified his remarks
by saying that while he realized that
the labor provisions of the transpor-
tation act of 1920 were wrong in
principle, and that the Howell Bark
ley bill now pending before Congress
came nearer to a solution of the prob
lem, still the President could improve
matters to an appreciable degree if
he were to take the steps indicated if
the Howell-Barkley bill fails of en-
actment.
Board Can't Work Efficiently
He furthermore said that he was
certain that the Railroad Labor Board
would never be able to function as
! anything like a nearly perfect ma
Shthc WIN us pcAoOAAllcA htAuc uP as
it now is under the law. The social
. ed "public group" is a misnomer, he
said, and is used merely to load the
board with partisans of the carriers
and even some of the carriers them.
selves look with contempt upon this
group as oudanders who have nc
practical knowledge Of the highly
, technical questions constantly con.
fronting them.
Railroad Business Technical
It is undoubtedly a fact that tbs
! railroad business is so highly special
: lied and technical that It Is foolhards
: for any one not trained for som.