The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-31
Cooperation with Capital
Basis of Administration
Proposed by Sec. Wilson
EXPECTS STRIKES
TO BE ABOLISHED
Joint Board of Mediation Planned
Lind Council Wants Production Con-
troll centralized-seve New Labor
Bureaus 70 Be Created.

Bureaus 10 Be Created.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3l.-Virtual re-
organization Of the department of la.
Dor has been decided on by Secretary
Wilson ~ the first move in a plan to
establish war labor administration
which will formulate a broad national
labor policy for the duration of the
YEAR.
The step was recommended by spe-
cial labor advisory council named by
Secretary Wilson two weeks ago to as
sist him in working out a program. A
war labor administration was proposed
in the council of national defense and
approved by President Wilson, who put
under Secretary. Wilson s direction all
government activities relating to labor
problems
Taking up fret the most difficult
task confronting him, that of bringing
capital and labor together in an ar
rangemcnt 10 end strikes, it was learned
tonight, Secretary Wilson will call on
both sides Immediately to form a joint
board 20 meet i'm Washington TO agree
on general principles to govern their
relations during the war. Each side
will be asked to name five representa-
tivca, who i'm turn will select one per
son each representing the general pub
lie, making a board Of II members.
The war labor administration will be
centcrcd in the reorganized and enlarged
labor department. Secretary Wilson
will hc supreme labor administrator,
and industrial service sections of other
government departments, although they
will continue their activities as at pres
cnt, will be centralized under his con
troll.
Seven new labor department serv-
ices, or bureaus, will be created. The
most important of these win be an ad-
iustment bureau, which will deal with
industrial disputes The others will be
IISftgS,eedd sSgd Ai2S VI labor i; iHfG or
dustry, training and dilution, housing
and transportation, and personnel.
Officials who have studied the wal
labor situation expressed the opinion
tonight that the labor problem at last
was in a fair way TO solution BY hav.
ing employers and employees agree on
the great principles of their relations, il
Is hoped 10 settle all differences that
may arise before they develop into
strikes Heretofore the policy has been
to take up the situation and attempt a
'etlement after the strikes are immi
nent or actually have occurred.
The labor problem has given the gov
eminent as much concern as any that
has arisen with the war, Strikes have
been moro numerous throughout tho
country that at any time in the past
and there has been a great amount of
labor unrest in nearly every industry.
Government departments anxious tc
obtain speedy production of war ma
tcrials, IL is generally admitted, have
not helped the situation nv allowing en-
ployers engaged on war contracts to
bid against each other for labor. Ev.
cry department, too, has dealt with It's
own labor problems in its own way. and
this general lack of definite policy, Off
Gals say, has done as much as anything
else TO bring about the present 5tua
ton
Congress will be asked for an an
preparation to get the new administra
tion started. The employment servic,
already has 100000 placed at it
disposal by the president from his gen
zeal emergency fund. The other bu
reaus will need considerable funds t
carry on their work.
To obtain the use of the facilities O
the industrial service sections of othe
departments, Secretary Wilson will cal
q conference of the secretaries of wa
and navy and the chairman of Tn
shipping board to obtain from thcr
the necessary authority to make Tn
services n part of the war labor ad
minissration.
In its report to Secretary Wilson
outlining the plan for the new organ