_Control of Domestic Common Carriers_: The Emergency Railroad Transportation Act of 1933 was designed to facilitate rehabilitation of the depression ridden American railroads. An Act addressed to economic rather than military emergency, it had nonetheless military overtones. The maintenance of an efficiently functioning railroad system capable of meeting potential American defense needs was an objective that could not be overlooked in the formulation of a successful railroad policy. The Act set up a Coordinator of Transportation who was to divide the railroad lines into three groups: eastern, southern, and western.[397] A number of railroad coordinating committees were created to carry out the purposes of the Act--i.e., elimination of unnecessary duplication of services and facilities, control of allowances, etc., and avoidance of undue impairment of net earnings, and other wastes and preventable expense, and promotion of financial reorganization.[398] Whenever unable to carry out these reforms the committees were to recommend action to the Coordinator who might, at his discretion, issue an order embodying their recommendations. When the committees failed to act on matters brought to their attention by the Coordinator he was authorized and directed to issue and enforce such order, giving appropriate directions to the carriers and subsidiaries subject to the Interstate Commerce Act as he found to be consistent with the public interest.[399] Like the N.I.R.A. the Act contained a provision dealing with labor relations. The Railroads were prohibited from reducing the number of their employees below the number as shown by the pay rolls of employees in service during the month of May, 1933, after deducting the number who had been removed from the payrolls after the effective date of the Act by reason of death, normal retirement, or resignation.[400] A regional committee system was established for the representation of employees, and provision made for regional boards of adjustment to settle controversies between carriers and employees. Carriers and employees were to be equally represented on such boards.[401] The Railway Labor Act of 1926, as amended in 1934, attempted to establish a pattern of free union-management negotiation of disputes with ultimate recourse to a National Mediation Board.[402]