Evening star., 1938-01-21

and commissions, there would be little
criticism to offer. But the truth is
many members of Congress have their
axes out for the labor board who do
not venture to offer either repeal or
amendment Of the act itself.
To ask an agency Of the Govern
ment which is supposed to perform
judicial functions to do 80 without
tools or equipment Is one way, Of
course, to paralyze It and nullify It's
efforts. but not 20 long ago there was
a great hue and cry over the land be-
cause an effort was made to affect the
highest court Of the land by legisla-
tive action. because It's decisions were
disliked. If Congress now adopts the
precedent Of breaking down the labor
board by refusing to give 1t the neces-
sary funds. especially when this Is due
to a dislike Of the decisions Of the
board, it would not be inconsistent In
the future to reduce or abolish those
Federal courts where the judges were
rendering opinions in conflict with the
desires of members Of Congress.
Figures on Boards Work.
The facts and figures about the
labor boards tremendous task Of car
rying out the law as written by Con-
,gress in 1885 were revealed to the
House Committee on Appropriations
and while an 100000 cut as compared
with last year was ordered, the bill as
passed by the House does not hamper
the labor boards continued operations
In the Senate committee, however,
there has been an additional cut Of
$3s5,o0O out Of q total Of $2,955,000
appropriated by the House which is
equal to what was spent in the fiscal
year 1887 whereas the number Of cases
has more than doubled.
In the fiscal year 1887 the number
Of cases Of all kinds amounted for the
full year to 436, but there have been
already 754 cases heard from July
! last to December 81 last.
If the labor board does not get the
money appropriated by the House 1t
will mean that the 81 field attorneys
needed, in addition to the 70 now on
duty, will not be available to handle
the additional cases. Likewise addt-
tional trial examiners will not be
forthcoming and fewer Investigators
who handle tho complaints.
Effect q Delays.
What it all means Is that there will
be delay In acting on the cases and
when there develops backlog Of uti-
cation so that labor organizations feel
that it will take six months or more
to get decision, they will resort to
strikes OF various kinds rather than
accept the conciliatory processes which
often develop when questions Of fact
about majority representation or un-
fair labor practices are quickly dis
posed Of in findings or rulings by the
labor board.
This correspondent has often criti-
cized rulings Of the labor board. but
on the whole believes that the board
is carrying out the letter as well as
the spirit Of the Wagner law and that
the right approach on the part Of
those who dislike the law Is to prevail
upon Congress to amend the act itself.
An examination Of many Of the cases
before the board will reveal that trial
examiners have in some cases con-
Quoted the hearings In manner that
leads to charges Of bias. If the ex-
aminers are lacking In judicial ca
pacity, 1t is a simple matter for Con-
gress to prescribe either that they
have legal or judicial training or that
they shall be guided by rules laid down
by Congress. But to cripple the board
by indirection Is not calculated to
bring labor peace and cut down the
number Of strikes, which are such
costly interruptions to the productive
process.
The list of items needed by the
labor board was carefully examined
by the Bureau Of the Budget in the
Treasury and 1t is much easier to
calculate sums required for q quasi
judicial agency with definite docket
Of cases than 1t is to measure in
advance the work of most Govern
ment departments or agencies. It
need not be a matter Of guess work at
all. SO when cut comes, it Is
obvious that, should Congress agree,
1t will mean that there Is no desire to
hasten the deciding Of labor board
cases.
Attitude Of Union.
Union labor has, to be sure, found
things to criticise in the labor boards
rulings but as between an Indifferent
or efficient machinery that can
quickly certify majorities where elec-
tions are desired and decide ques-
tions Of Unfair labor practice that
have in the past been such q pro-
life cause Of strikes, 1t is not likely
that organized labor will want to see
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