Evening journal., 1918-07-29
DRASTIC LABOR
CODE { IS IS URGED
Law to Prevent Strikes in
Munition Plants
Advocated
STANDARDIZING PAY
ALSO Is PROPOSED
Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.

Special TO THE EVENING JOURNAL.
WASHINGTON, July %. ~ Congress
sional action 10 prevent strikes In war
munitions plants and to stabilize labor
conditions in the United States is being
planned in Connection with the new
man-power bill, which the War De-
partment will submit to Congress soon
after it reconvenes late in August.
That the labor situation has been
so acute that it Is giving great con-
cern to Government departments, and
TO Congress, also, is evidenced by the
steps taken during the last few days
to prevent the tying up Of munitions
production through labor difficulties
The administrations man-pOwer bill.
II has become known unofflcially
would place only those men within
the enlarged draft ages who fall into
class one under military control, while
industrial man-power in general would
be placed under the control Of the De-
partment Of Labor The department
would draft whatever labor might be
needed, from one industry TO another,
as conditions might require.
Members Of the Military Affairs
Committee Of the House the last two
days have conferred with officials OF
the War Department and the Depart
ment Of Labor. urging that all men
within the new draft ages be placed
under military control, so that the
military authorities could cope with
any strike or other labor difficulty.
As an alternative they have urged
that should the authority 10 draft labor |
be placed in the Department Of Labor, /
every man who registers under the new
age limits OF the draft he required to file |
comprehensive statement Of his quail
ncations. They want not only those
who viii be available for military duty
alone 10 flle these reports, but as well
all the men within the new age limits
who would be industrially exempted
from military duty.
The final terms OF the new man {
power bill have not been decided upon,
however. Even the new age limits have {
not been determined, Chairman Dent, OF {
the House Military Affairs Committee, {
said. Secretary Baker is said TO favor
25 and 35 as the new limits. Congress- {
men who desire to place labor under {
the contol Of the military forces favor Z
a maximum age Of IS years or over. {
The members of Congress who are I
in Washington during the I
recess, including some Of the most ar /
dent pro-labor Senator's and Represen-
are preparing drastic legislation
to prevent strikes and otherwise control
labor. They will seek to have this leg
islation considered while the new man
power bill Is before Congress.
These measures include:
A law TO prohibit strikes, similar TO
The measure defeated last spring.
A. stringent anti-proflteering law.
Standardization OF living prices, with !
consequent standardization of labor :
wages.
Senator Thomas, Democrat, Of Colo
rado, strong labor man, is the prin- !
ripal advocate Of the anti-strike law. G
He and Senator King, Democrat. Of !
Utah. have conferred with President 5
Wilson the last two days.
Senator Thomas said: a
Congress must consider anti-strlke
sgislation in connection with the new
lan-power bill have been receiving "
stters every day showing that the =.
ublic Is demanding we back up the q,
len at the front al
THE wives and mothers OF the men -
t the front won't stand for conditions -
J they exist. -,
Il understand a great many Of the q,
len who are stirring up strikes are n
dthin the draft age, but who have
cen exempted from military service be- ar
ause Of their industrial employment. N
These strikes are the gravest men In
ce before the country today. Labor Is IN
sing all kind OF subterfuges TO get W
round the agreement II made not TO :
ie UP war work through walkouts. In
tead Of calling strikes they declare
holiday"
He said that In a recent strike IN
'ewark, n. j., the men who walked out
we're told TO go flshing"
Senator Thomas asserts II he has his
way the draft age Will be increased TO
eventy-fve years, so that every man
ould be placed under military control.
Several members Of the House are
rging the Standardization Of prices by