Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1924-05-30
NEW RAILROAD LABOR BILL
IS Constructive PROPOSAL
sAM'L G0MPERS POINTS OUT

Bv International Labor News Service.
Washington, ID. {. May 27.-fhe
charge made by some opponents of
the Howell -Barkley railroad bin that
the public is not given representation
in settlement of railroad disputes is
denied by referring to the bill itself
in a statement by President Samuel
Gompers of the American Federation
Of Labor.
THE board of mediation said Nh.
Gompers (which is the most import
ant body to be set up under the How
ell -Barkley bill. is TO be made up of
five members, none of whom shall be
connected with the railroad industry
in any manner. These men are to
be appointed by the president. That
insures a protection for the rights
and interests of the people in general
far greater than is now provided and
far greater than in any other sug-
gestion that has been offered.
Chief Points in Bill.
''Tke chief provisions of this ad-
mirable measure are:
81. Abolition of the present Rail
road Labor Board and the repeal of
the labor provisions of the Esch-Cum-
Minis Law.
"2. Placing upon both sides the OBJ
legation to exert every reasonable ef-
fort to make and maintain agree
ments' concerning wages and work
ing conditions.
"3. Settlement of disputes by con-
ference where possible and where not
possible, if merely technical disputes
over interpreting agreements, then
the reference of such disputes to ad-
iustment board in which the two
parties have equal expert representa-
ton. These adjusted boards have no
authority over the making or chang
ing of wages or rules.
Four Adjustment Boards.
"a. Four such adjustment boards
are provided for: (a) train service;
(b) shop men; (c) clerks and miscel-
laneous employees; td) marine work
ers.
"5. A board of mediation composed
of five members to he named by the
President of the United States, none
of whom shall be connected with the
railroad industry. This board to act
primarily where conferences fail to
result in agreements on wages and
rules, or secondarily in the rare in
stances where boards of adjustment
fail to decide grievance disputes.
"6. Creation of arbitration boards
when conference and mediation fail
which will act only when both parties
have agreed to accept the award.
Boards of arbitration under the
terms of the bill are to be composed
of three or six persons, one-third to
be chosen by employees, one-third by
the railroads, the remainin - one-third
selected by agreement or appointment
by the board of mediation.
Bill Constructive. He Says.
"There will be agreement in ad-
vance to accept the award which Will
be made a judgment of, court unless
il is set aside because (a) the pro-
ceedings or the awards were not in
conformity with the law, or (b) be
cause the award does not conform to
the agreement to arbitrate, or (c) be-
cause the result of arbitration was
affected by fraud or corruption.
ut is clear that the provisions OF
this bill provide a constructive demo-
cratic method of dealing with disputes
between employers and employees In
the railroad industry and that its sue
cess, in so far as success can ever be
insured in advance, is made exceed.
ingIy probable by the substitution OF
the principle of voluntary action Tor
the principle of compulsory action
which has made the Esch-Cummins
Act impossible.