Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-02
! Industrial Commission
al is s1ggegted that the Commission
(Continued from Page 50

ton providing for museum OF safety
is not endorsed). Proper steps should
be taken to provide for the coordtna-
ton of the work of all Federal bu-
reaus whose work lis concerned d. with
industrial safety.
2. The appropriations of the Pub
lie Health Service for the inVeStlga-
lion and promotion of industrial sani-
tation should be increased"
Housing.
ut has been found in tine course OF
e COMMISSIONS Investigate ms:
I The present provisions TO rthe
ousing of workmen are generally
pad, not only in the large cities Dut
in industrial communities OF every
size and in ruarl districts
Q. Not only are the houses ana
.enements which are available for
workers largely insanitary and unit
for habitation, but they are made
luate, resulting in high rents, over
orowding and congestion.
8. Such conditions make not only
for discomfort and unhappiness, but
for disease and degeneration
A. The ordinary method of supply
ing houses through their erection 10y
private capitalists for investment and
speculation has rarely if ever been
adequate. r..
5. Excellent plans for the housing
If worlzmen have been put into effect
oy a number of firms and corpora
ions, but such measures have not al
Ill affected the genral situation, and
being dependent upon the voli:ion oil
s,.I ;yrsI II. ho ro0orA0d n c
likely to greatly influence progress
6. The tenement house acts, as
! we'll as the health ordinances ana
Juilding regulations of municipalitie
While generally productive of good ed
fects, are at best surface remedies
and can never cure the evils of the
present housing situation.
In every important European
country government aid and direc
Intervention to. curb speculation have
proved to be necessary for the promo
ton of any real progress.
8. Governmental action in Europe
has chiefly taken the following forms;
a Extension of voluntary non
proft4making associations.
b Construction by the Government
of buildings (which are leased for Ions
periods on easy terms.
c. Exemption from taxation an(
other subsidies for homes constrlctct
for occupancy by their owners
d. Legislation designed to preven1
the holding of land out of use and Il
secure for the Government part o.
the 'tunearned increment"
Ut is suggested that the Commission
recommend: m ',1sS
1. The State and Federal Govern
ments should institute investigations
directed not so much to ascert.ainine
existing housing conditios, as to for
mulating constructive methods by
which direct support and sencoalrays
ment to the promotion Of improved
housing should proceed as rapidly as
|prOper plans ca nbe drafted.
2. Special attention SHOULD be
given to taxation, in order that land
should as far as possible be forced
into use and the burden of taxation
be removed from home owners
&. The mUnicipa lities should he
relieved from all State restrictions
which now prevent them from l1de-
taking the operation of adequate
housing schemes and from engaging
in other necessary municipal enter.
prises."
F Women and Children in Industry.
The investigations and hearings OF
the Commission justify the conclu.
sfons:
Z 1 AS a result of their unprote. ted
condition, women and children ara
exploited in industry, trade, domestic
service, and agriculture, to an ext ant
which threatens their health and wei
fare and menaces the welllbeing of
future generations. -.
z. The competition of women and
children is a direct menace to the
wage and salary standards of men,
y Under present conditions, chill
dren are permitted by Their parents to
go to work largely because their earn
lngs are necessary for the support of
the rest OF the family The restrictive
legislation OF the past Quanter-century.
although admirable in purpose and III
innate results, has thrown a heavy
burden upon their fathers and moth
ers, who, at j, existing wages. have
been barely able to ellppont their
families. The evidence shows that the
burden OF child labor legislation has
rested upon the wage earners rather
than upon employers. 1t is the testi-
mony OF enlightener employers that
the employment of chilnren is IN
profltalble, anr that the effect OF ex-
Guiding chilnren from factories has
been to increase rather than decrease
prof1ts. In the interests of society as
! whole. further restrictions ON the
employment of immature children
ire necessary, but it is Important
hat they should be made with an un-
Outstanding that the burden will rest
primarily upon the wage earners,
whose selfsacriflce should be fully
T.. The increasing employment of
women has been due to two primary i
;anses: First, the low wages of men,
which ave made the earnings Of wo-I
nen necessary for the support Of the
anily, and, second, the inducement |
o employers to substitute women |
or men because they will accept |
over wages and are less likely toll
'rotest against conditions The sub
'titution of women for men has been
Teatly assisted by the introduction
{ improved machinery, which makes
trength and technical skin unneces-
AIRY. s
s. The increased employment of /
r<nnrS II