Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-04
REGARDING RAILROAD STRIKES

The National Association Of
Manufacturers is opposing the Wat
SON. Parker bill before Congress. 1t
declares that while this measure H.
still pending. which, friends claim
will prove the panacea needful, the
railroad organizations of employees
are planning to unite in q demand
for an increase in wages amounting
to half billion dollars.
To this a counsel for the labor
organizations replies:
There is no relationship between
moves for increased railroad work.
ers' pay and the labor support of the
Watson Parker bill to provide means
Of settling labor disputes. There is
deliberate effort by manufacturers
to create a false impression by
propaganda. There are certain
negotiations pending. but there Is no
general concerted wage movement in
relation to the bill"
II, for arguments sake, we accept
this statement as Correct in all par
ticulars there nevertheless remains
the fact that the railroad organiza-
lions, who wish to eliminate the third
party to their controversies. are get
ting ready for another OF those con-
troversies. In the past. when that
situation prevailed. the public was
the goat and the inference re-
mains that this Is the role most ac-
ceptable to the railroad workers and
their employers.
Perhaps the country has not for
gotten the Adamson law, when the
chief executive of this country was
fguratively taken by the throat. All
he could do was approve to avoid a
strike and then ask the country to
pass laws which should provide for
a thorough investigation of the facts
before a strike or lockout should be
permitted,
His request was a reasonable one.
The Association reviews the pro-
posed measure in this fashion:
1.-The actual stages through which
disputes must so under the pending
bill show it's ineffectiveness so far
as public protection is concerned.
The disputes go;
First: to a conference between
officials of the railways and repre-
sentatives of the employees. Failing
here. then:
Second: to q board of adjustment
appointed by the railways and en-
ployees. Failing here, then:
Third: to board of arbitration,
composed of either three or six mem
bers, as the employees and railways
determine. The employees select one
third of this board; the railways Sc
lect one third and this two-thirds
selects the other third. The public is
not invited into the discussion. This
board has court authority to sum-
mon witnesses and compel the pro-
duction of documents; but 1t does
not assume any authority to stay a
strike while negotiations are In
progress. Failing here. then:
Fourth: to a Mediation Board
which the President is empowered to
establish with the passage of the
bill. This board is to be in continual
existence at $4,000 per year per
member. But this board can enter
into the dispute only when asked and
its recommendation or suggestions
are not at all binding or enforceable.
This board naturally becomes a weak
instrument and nothing more effec-
tive than a data gathering body. This
Board. failing to influence a decision,
reports then:
Fifth: to the Presidents Emer-
gency Board composed Of as many
members as the President wishes.
This board NAV be made up entirely
of disinterested public men, but its
inquiry is merely a gesture as the
bill. which gives the operators-em
ployees arbitration board power to
compel witnesses to testify. denies
this authority to the Presidents
Emergency Board. Nor has this
Board or the President any power to
stay a strike while the dispute Is
under investigation"
The manufacturers association
suggests amendments. Without at
tempting to express an opinion as to
the merit of these It would seem
proper that thew should receive care
full consideration and that time be
taken for giving this proposed legis-
lation thorough review before
abolishing the Railroad Labor Board.