The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-09-08

nave Been ioie because government
War Contracts Have Been In the
Hands of Contractors Who Violate
HeaIthfuI Working Conditions.
A plan to correct the evils of sweat
shop manufacture Of army uniforms
has been submitted by the mayors
committee on national defense to the
committee appointed by the war de-
partment to investigate the situation,
says the New York World. The latter
committee consists OF Louis e. Kir-
stein of Boston, chairman, Mrs. Flor
ence Kelley of the Consumers league
and Captain Walter r. Kreust of the
quartermaster's department.
The plan, made public by Thomas L..
Chadbourne, Jr., chairman Of the may
or's committee, provides fog the for
fixture of contracts unless fair condi-
lions of labor are maintained. Govern
ment boards Of inspection are to see
that these standards are consistently
maintained.
AhC p1CA uS puDIlC NY lAC
mayors committee is as follows:
Suggested policy for government to
adopt with reference to war contracts,
promising that the government is only
slightly less interested In having fair
labor conditions maintained in connec-
ton with government work than in
having the work itself economically
and promptly performed in this ma
tional emergency.
1.-THE mayors committee on national
defense of New York proposed the fol-
lowing method of safeguarding the
labor conditions:
"First.-Everv contract should pro-
vide that 1t will be forfeited unless fair
labor conditions are maintained. Fair
conditions should include
"(a) Compliance with the require
ments of the labor laws and orders and
regulations Of the department of labor.
"(b) Maintenance of wages and hours
at least up to standards customary in
the trade prevailing rate of wages;
such standards to be determined as
quickly as possible through Joint agree
ments between employers and employ
ees. There are on file in the bureau of
labor statistics, department Of labor,
Washington, tabulated records of pre-
! vailing agreements in various indus
| tries that would readily give the last
established rates of hours and wages
| as O. basis for negotiations.
"Second.-The government should or
| ganize, directly or through local defense
| councils and committees, boards of in
| spection. with a proper force of inspec.
tors, to see to it that standards are
properly established and maintained
these boards to have power of enforce
ment as per ~ of this statement
These boards of inspection might uti.
lie as far as possible already existing
machinery for investigation such as
the bureau of information and investi
CATION maintained by the employment
clearing house of the mayors commit
tee of women.
Third, Firms now holding contracts
should be inspected as rapidly as pos
sible either by those same boards
| Of inspection suggested In ~ or by
some other body of inspectors, and
| those derelict IN maintaining fair con
ditions should be barred from receiving
future contracts unless a definite plan
for improvement satisfactory to the
board of inspection is furnished.
Fourth. Employers should be ad
vised that they must come to some un
Outstanding with their employees fOl
the organization of machinery for thu
making Of collective agreements, sucl
machinery to give full freedom TO the
employees In the determination of The
organizations to which they shall be
long for such purpose. Such collective
agreements shall include standard IL
reference to wages and hours and pro
VISIONS for appeal to LOCAL boards Of in
spection or mediation in settlement OF
disputes and where necessary for tina
appeal to a national board Of arbitra
ton.
Fifth The city Of New York points
out that It has some 300 900 skilled gar
ment workers half Of whom are idle
and have been idle FOR some time. A
situation of unemployment is rapidly
developing, while new markets are be
ing developed elsewhere by the placing
Of government contracts in new cen
tiers where new and unskilled employ
ees are being utilized. New York city
Is the logical market for the garment
industries and contains more skilled
garment workers than any other mar
ket in the United States. These gar
ment workers, while highly skilled Ii
their own trade, are not employable FOL
other Industries. There should be ere
ated O board Of review, which will &C
over all garment contracts as distrib
uted at present from the point of view
of their proper apportionment. so that
future contracts viii be given out witt
due recognition Of the importance oil
the New York city market"