The Washington herald., 1913-01-26
WOULD PREVENT
INDUSTRIAL WAR
National Civic F e ederation
Plans to Make Arbitration
Of Disputes Compulsory.
SEEKING MANY REFORMS
Uniformity in State Legislation on the
Subject of Mediation Being
Sought.

New York, Jan. Sis it possible to
prevent industrial dispute by law? Should
there be Federal and State mediation
boards with compulsory powers. such as
was recommended by the arbitrators in
the recent controversy between the en-
Eineers and the Eastern railroads?
This is one of the serious questions
that will be taken up by the National
Civic Federation at its thirteenth annual
meeting, which will be held in this city
on January S-29
The Federation has devoted much time
during the past two years to the matter
of uniformity in State legislation, and
through its state committees it expects to
secure much legislation in the respective
States this winter along various lines.
One of the things the Federation is
striving for is model state mediation
bill and II will also endeavor to get
Congress TO so amend the Erdman Fed
eral mediation act as to make il appli-
cable in a larger variety of cases.
There has been a demand for the
Fsderation's bills from most of the thir-
ty-eight State Legislatures which are in
session this winter, and there is no doubt
that an extensive programme will be
put through.
Subjects Receiving Attention.
Here are the subjects upon which the
Federation will propose legislation:
WOrkmen's compensation.
Accident prevention
Pensions for Federal, State and munich
pay employees.
Reform in legal procedure.
Regulation of public utilities.
Mediation of Industrial disputes.
Regulation of industrial corporations
Regulation of the manufacture and sale
of drugs and food products.
Bills on all these questions have al
ready been drafted and will come before
the Federation for general discussion.
The wOrkmens compensation bill was
GRATED by committee of the Federation
of which August Belmont is chairman.
This committee was assisted in drawing
up the bill by the cOmpensations commit
tees of the American Bar Association
and the Uniform State Law Commission
ers 1t has been indOrsed by the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor and is the basis
Of the Federal act for the compensation
Of railroad employees which has passed
the Senate and is now awaiting consid-
Grafton in the House.
The model safety act. which was drawn
up in the interest of accident prevention.
has been indOrsed by the International
Association of Factory Inspectors and
the likelihood is that it will be passed
10y most of the States this winter.
Model Pension Bill.
The model pension bill, which applies
to Federal. State and municipal en-
Iloyes will be circulated among the State
Legislatures right after the adjournment
of the annual meeting of the Federation.
This measure was drafted by a special
committee OF experts with William R
Wilcox as chairman. Mr.. Wilcox has
studied this question closely at home and
abroad
The problem of what TO do. or what
should be done with Federal. State and
municipal employees who have become
sUperannuated is a VeXed one. 1t is A
practical business problem as well as
humanitarian one.
The bill regarding the sale Of drugs
and food products was drafted by
committee of twenty-one, with John Hays