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

supply of such labor. and the conse-
quent competition, by, their tradi-
tlonal position Of dependence, and by
their disfranchisement
| 3. "a very thorough Investigation
IN the New England States failed to
show assingle manufacturer who had
left a state as result of restrictive
factory legislation. On the contrary,
the majority Of manufacturers ex-
pressed the opinion that the legisla-
ton regulating conditions for women
and children had BEEN advantageous
to the industry as a whole, particu-
larry because it placed all competit-
ors upon the same footing. Similarly,
4 an investigation of the effects OF min
imGmlwage legislation failed to show
any calculaIble effects upon the cost
OF production, or upon the employ
ment OF women, after a sufficient per
iiod had elapsed to allow the neces-
~ readJustlnents to be made.
y. Nevertheless, there is strong
nd increasing demand on the part of
manufacturers in the more progress
siVe States that regulation Of factory
c0ndln0ns should be undertaken by
the Federal Government, in order
that competitors in all parts of the
Ecountry should be placed upon an
equal footing in this respect The
same demand comes also from repre-
sentatives of labor, not only because
the argument of interstate 4competi-
ton is creating strong opposition to
progressive legislation, but because
of the great economy of effort wbic
would result from having to make tn,
},hght for better legislation. only at the
National Capital instead of in A.
'.ates. Z.
1T IS suggested that the Commits
sion recommend:
! l. The recognition both by public
opinion and in such legislation as
may be enacted, of the principle that
lWomenshon1d receive the same COM
lpensation as men for the same SER
vice.
i 2. Until this principle is recog-
nlzed, and women are accorded equal
political rights, the extension of State
lprotection of women, through legisla-
tom regulating working conditions,
hours of service, and minimum
Iwages, is highly desirable
If ). The increased organization OF
working women for sef-protection
and the Improvement of their indus
trial conditions.
| a. The inclusion of all women
working for wages, whether in dnaus.
ltry, trade, domestic service, or agri.
|culture, under future legislation regu.
l1at1ng their wages, hours, or working
conditions
3. The extension of the principle
Nkno <-f soL.sl
the rapid increase of failicties for
1 their education as outlined else
where.
i g.. The enactment 10y Congress OF
legislation eGnbodying the principles
contained in the so-called Palmer
1Owen bill, which was before Congress
at the last session.
Public Utilities.
i The report discusses conditions of
empl Oynnent In the two principal tele-
Igraph companies, in the telephone
Service in the service Of the Pullman
company and on the railroads. It
fsays: 4 re
The Investigations of the Commits
sion show:
i; !. The scope of the Newlands Act.
which applies only to employees en-
gagged IN the operation of Interstate
railroads, is too narrow and leaves
the public service in the transmission
OF intelligence and in the handling of
Interstate commerce likely to be in
terrupted by labor disputes without
any adequate legal provision either
or mediation and Cancellation or for
making the facts involved in the dis
Ipute known to the public.
=. EsVen as applied to train SER
lVlce employees, the sNewlands Act
LproV1des no means of bringing the
tracts before the. public, except, when
tDot hsldes agree to arbitration
3. The selection of impartial. mem
IDers OF arbitration boards has almost
without exception deRoIved upon the
Board OF Mediation and Cancellation.
owing to the inability OF the parties
10 agree. This not only imposes an.
unpleasant and burdensome task
upon the Board Of Mediation and
IConc1liation, but tends greatly to
lWeaken its influence. The experiences
IN Great Britain shows that agree
Jment can be reached by joint confer
ence OF employers and EMPLOYEES
during, a period of industrial peace
Tor the selection OF apanel of Impair
aial persons from which arbitrators
|car be selected when they are need
reg, and seems to indicate that in the
United States the inability of the
parties to agree upon impartial arbi-
traitors Is due in part at least to the
aact That they are always selected
during the heat of the conflict
1t is suggested that the Commits
sion recommend. IN
I. !. The extension or the Newlands
ACT to cover not only all classes of
railroad employees, but all employees
OF PUBLIC service corporations which |
are engaged in interstate comonna Gree
u: The functions Of the Board ~
Mediation and Cancellation under the
NeWlands Act should be extended Fl
provide for the creation of Boards nj
investigation, to be formed only nv
Inc consent Of both parties and til
make q report of facts and recon-.
q S<Nwne Il -