Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-02


Icitizenship be developed.
2. Under existing conditions such
\ an income is not received by fully
one-half of the wage earners EN-
ployed in industry
8. The natural resources of the
United States are such that an indus
trial population properly educated
land efficiently organized can produce
enough to achieve this standard OF
living.
4. 1T is probable that even at-pres-
emit the national agricultural and in
the establishment of such a standard.
/ 5. The problem is therefore essen
TALLY one of distribution
6. The fixing of wages of adult
Iworkmen by legal enactment is not
practicable no rdesiraIble as general
lpolicy, except for public employees.
| Z. A just standard of wages in any
industry or occupation can best be
Preached by collective bargaining be
tween employers and employees for
the purpose of forming voluntary
joint agreements The success and
justice of such joint agreement is,
however, dependent upon the essen
tial equality of the two parties and
can not be attained unless effective
organization exists.
| ''It is suggested that the Commits
sion make the following recommends
tons:
l.. In order that the public may be
Fkept fully informed with regard to
labo rconditions, and that a proper
basis of facts should exist for nego-
/ tiation and arbitration, the Federal
Government should enact the neces-
sary legislation to provide for the
| collection, through the Bureau of
Labor Statistics or otherwise of the
full and exact facts regarding wages,
hours of labor, and extent of unem-
ployment for every industry. Every
| employer should be required by law
to file with the proper authority a
sworn statement of these facts &C
| cording to a prescribed form. These
statistics should be published annu-
ally, and the full data regarding any
| industry or plant should be accessible
to any mediator or any other respon-
sible citizen
2. 0 Uniform statutes should be
passed by the Legislatures of all
Estates requiring tat wages be paid at
! least semi-monthly and in cash, ex-
cept where by joint agreement other
methods are agreed upon"
~. Hours of LABOR.
AS a result Of in Vestigatfon the
following conclusions are Justified:
l. The physical wellibeing, mental
Development 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
worhmen in manufactur transpor-
tation and mining work work more
than eight hours per day. 49,
3. This is in marked contrast to
the condition of those whose econ
omic positionenables them to define
the length of their working days
4. Practical experience has shown
that he redut oion of working hours is
in the interest not only of the worker
and the community generally, but OF
the employer.
5. The regulation by legal enact
ment of working hours of adult work
men is not generally practicable nor
desirable, except for public EN-
ployees.
1t is suggested that the Commits
sion recommend:
L. That in the so-caled continuous
occupations, other than the movement
of trains, requiring work during both
the day and the night for six or seven
days per week, the State and Federal
Governments should directly inter
vene so that he working hours should
not exceed eight per day nor extend
to more than six days per week"
Safety and Sanitation.
"The Investigations which have
been made warrant the following con
illusions:
!. 4 Great progress has been made
during recent years in promoting
safety and sanitation in manufactur
ing, mining and transportation.
2. The progress has been mos
rapid in the direction of safeguard
ing workers from Industrial accidents
9. Progress in safety has been il
part the result of continued agitation
and education, but has proceeded
most rapidly and satisfactorily sine,
the enactment Of worHmen's compeu
sation laws which render unsaf,
working conditions expensive to tn,
employer
4. The movement has also beel
largely promoted by the forn6atio O
safety committees opposed Of official
and workmen, and by the creation O
joint conferences of employers ant
employees to assist and advise Stat
officials in the administration Of tn
law and in the, formulation of safet,
rules
s. The campaign for safety needs
however. to be greatly extended a
rapidly as possible The annual Lis
of accidents, approximately $500
aftalities and 100000 injuries invof1
ing disability Of over four weeks, ca
not be regarded complacently. Fron
onethird to onehak of these accident
have been estimated by competen
authorities to be preventable by pr
Eper safeguards, inspection, and COZ
troll.
6. The advance in the sanitation
Eof work shops has been less rapid, b
cause not only are the dangers les
obvious, but here is no financial il;
Utility for diseases or deaths occurrin
as the result of improper sanitation
Future progress in sanitation d,