NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD

244 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
sions, and recommendations. Trial examiners ordinarily prepare
these reports in Washington. They are then sent to the regional director
who serves the reports on the parties. Reports in cases involving
petitions for determination of representatives are brief, in
and made only to the Board since its power to act in such
cases is exclusive.
Each trial examiner makes his own determination of facts. Trial
examiners are, of course, free to consult with the Chief Trial Examiner
as to questions of law or questions involving the form or language
of their reports.
When, as often occurs, a trial examiner is sent out from Washington
and hears three or four cases before returning to Washington
he is requested to draft his reports in the field and send them in to
the office at Washington for typing. Upon such occasions discussions
as to questions of law and the form of reports may be carried on by
correspondence.
Until recently the Board had made substantial use of the per diem
trial examiner in addition to those on the regular staff. The per
diem system was used for two basic reasons :
(1) As a means of trying out applicants for positions, and
(2) In order to carry the very heavy load of cases.
However, it was decided as of August 1, 1938, the Board would
no longer employ per diem trial examiners. From among those persons
who had been per diem trial examiners a number of individuals
were appointed to positions on its regular staff. Some few persons
not applicants for regular positions are employed occasionally on a
per diem basis when no regular examiners are available.