Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-25

In agriculture, there is no array Of
exact figures which can be quoted to
show the condition Of labor. But.
speaking generally. the available evil
dence indicates clearly that while in
some sections agricultural laborers
are well paid and fairly treated. the
condition OF the mass is very much
ike that of the industrial workers.
| moreover, there is a peculiar con-
dltion in agriculture, which merits a
brief but strong statement at this
point as a preface to a more detailed
discussion later. The most alarming
| fact in American agriculture is the
rapid growth of tenancy. In 1910
there were 81 tenant operated farms
out of each 100 farms in the United
States as compared with % in 1880.
an increase Of 50 per cent. during 20
years.
Corporations and Wage Farmers.
! Discussing existing relations be-
tween employers and employees, the
report points out that the typical
form of Industrial organization is the
corporation.
In transportation" says Mr.. Man
ly, approximately 100 per cent Of the
wage earners are employed by COR
porations: In mining, 80 per cent;
and in manufacturing, IS per cent.
Moreover, it is under this form that
the great problems of industrial rela-
tons have developed"
After Analysing the elements that
so to make up typical corporation
MIR. Manly says:
The ordinary stockholder in large
corporation actually occupies a less
direct relationship to the corporation
in which he is interested. has less
knowledge of its actual operations,
and less control over it's management
than the ordinary citizen has over
local. state and national governments
Here, then, is the field of indus
trial relations: Masses of workers on
the one side dealing in some manner
with foremen and superintendent on
the other. behind whom is an orsanl-
zation of executive officials. repre-
senting in turn the Board of Directors.
who are the chosen representatives of
the stockholders.
The crux Of the whole question of
! industrial relations is: Shall the
workers for the protection of their in
terests be organized and represented
collectively by their chosen delegates,
even as the stockholders are repre-
scented by their directors and by the
and bosses?
Wages.
LAS a result of the Investigations which
have been made the following conclu-
sions are justified:
| l. The welfare of the State demands
that the useful labor of every able
bodied workman should as a minimum
be compensated by sufficient income to
support in comfort himself. wife, and
| at least three minor children and in adj
dition to provide for sickness, CID age,
and disability. Under no other condi-
tons can strong. contented and efficient
citizenship be developed.
| :. Under existing conditions such an
| income is not received by fully one-half
OF the wage earners employed in indus
3 The natural resources of the United
states are such that an industrial popu-
latlon properly educated and efficiently
| organized can produce enough to achieve
| this standard of living.
4. 1t is probable that even at present
the national agricultural and industrial
output is sufficient to permit the estab-
| u.
.. The problem is therefore essentially
one of distribution.
6. The fixing of the wages of adult
Workmen by legal enactment is not prac-
ticable nor desirable as general policy
except for public employees.
Z. A just standard of wages in any
INDUSTRY or occupation can best be
reached ny collective bargaining between
pose of forming voluntary joint agree
ments. the success and justice of such
Joint agreements is. however, dependent
upon the essential equality of the two
parties and can not be attained unless
effective organization exists
Hours Of Labor.
LAS a result of investigation the fol-
lowing conclusions are justified:
velopment and recreational needs Of
every class of population demand that
under normal circumstances the working
day should not exceed eight hours.
| 2. A very large percentage of the work.
men in manufactures. transportation and
mining work more than eight hours per
day.
8. This is. in marked contrast to the
condition of those whose economic posi-
ton enables them to define the length of
their own working days.
Safety and Sanitation.
THE Investigations which have been
l
! l. Great progress has been made
during recent years in promoting safe
ty and sanitation in manufacturing,
mining and transportation.
| 2. The progress has been most rapid In
the direction Of safeguarding workers
from industrial accidents.
3. Progress in safety has been in part
the result Of continued agitation and edu-
and satisfactorily since the enactment OF
workmen's compensation laws which rem
der unsafe working conditions expensive
to the employer. :.
| Housing.
1T has been found in the course Of the
Commissions Investigations:
! l. The present provisions for the hous-
ing Of workmen are generally bad, not
| only in the large cities but in industrial
communities of every size and in rural
| districts.
| 2. Not only are the houses and tene-
ments which are available for workers
largely insanitary and unfit for habita-
ton. but they are inadequate, resulting
IN high rents. overcrowding and conges-
! ton.
3. Such conditions make not only for
discomfort and unhappiness, but for dis
ease and degeneration.
8: Governmental action in Europe has
| chiefly taken the following FORMS
q. Extension Of credit to voluntary
non-prof1t-making associations.
b. Construction by the Government Of
buildings which are leased for long Pc
riOdS easv torna