The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1943-11-25

of the Brotherhood of Railway c.
sci for the unions. They spoke on "a
Labor for Victory program, National
Broadcasting Co.
Resolution O.K.'s Pact
The resolution certifies that the con-
tract entered into by railroad manage
ments and 10 incorporating unions pro-
viding for fiat cents an hour wage
increase, in accordance with the award
of a special emergency board, is in
conformity with the stabilization plan.
Richberg charged that the actiOn~Of
Economic StabiliZation Director Fred
Nj. Ninson in vetoing this award eX
ceeded the authority delegated by Con-
gress in the Economic Sterilization
Act.
Harrison said that the sliding scale
of wages increases (from to 10 cents
an hOur) awarded by Il second emer-
gency board and approved by Vinson
is "theoretical' and ''wholly imprac-
teal of application" The unions reject
ed this award and ordered taking of Il
strike ballot.
Workers Need Help
Summing up the case of the rail
road workers, Harrison said:
."rhe position of the nations railroad
employees is this they want to stay
on the job. They are determined to do
all they can to help America win the
war.
''rhey know how important their
maximum service is to the success of
the war effort. In seeking to exert this
maximum service they need help. In
have sought help.
Uphold Award, Is Plea
"Through the machinery of the Rail
way Labor Act they have obtained
adjustments in wages which will per
nit them to meet higher living costs
and enable them to stay on the job of
raiIroading instead of seeking other
jobs in industries with higher wage
rates.
"All we ask is to have this award up
held The award was legally arrived
at. While it helps the railroad work
not result in increases of railroad
rates. 1t will therefore, have no in
tlationary effect. In fact, the award
must be upheld in order to strengthen
the nations war effort
In reply to Sterilization Director
Wilson'S argument for the sliding scale
increases, Richberg said:
l,, ,;,,i,
spent months on this case, and the
managers and employees who compose
the railroad industry, all agree that
the s cents fiat increase is the most
practicable and desirable wage adjust
ment.
Wilson'S Authority Denied
"Why should their Judgment be SET
aside by Il single public official who
has had no practical experience in
rairoading and who has given only
superficial study to this problem?
The second answer is that nowhere
in the stabiiZation act, and nowhere
in any law has any authority been
conferred upon Judge Ninson to fix
railway wages
The only authority granted to any
one by the stabilization act is author.
ity to prevent wage increases which
may affect the cost of living and him
der prosecution of the war.
Yet Judge Wilson's disapproval is
preventing wage adjustments which
admittedly will not affect the cost of
living and which clearly will aid in
the war;
AFL Backing Pledged
At the close of the program, pre-
Sented by the American Federation Of
Labor, it was announced that the fed
GRAFTON was in complete accord with
the statements made by Harrison and
Richberg and will give its full sup
port to the railroad workers in their
efforts to obtain Il fair and equitable
II Ii,x ,f