The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-12
LABOR PROGRAMME
FORMALLY ADOPTED
Plenary Session of Peace
Council Accept Plan for
World Congress.

PARIS, April 1.-THE report of the
Committee on International Labor Legis-
lation, which drafted a programme to
govern International regulation OF en-
ployment conditions, was adopted to-day
by the Peace Conference In plenary seS-
sion with amendments proposed by
George Nicoll Barnes, Minister without
portfolio in the British Cabinet. and one
Of the representatives of his country on
the Labor Committee.
When Mr.. Barnes was recognized he
offered a motion approving the drsft
of q convention to create a permanent
ternatinal labor conditions and request
ing the various governments to nominate
delegates forthwith.
A series of amendments proposed by
the British members also was presented
by Mr.. Barnes. One Of them would ex-
tend the period for ratification OF labor
proposals to eighteen months instead Of
one year. Another of the amendments
follows:
I'm framing an act. recommended
tion or draft of a convention of gen.
eral application the conference shall
have due regard to those countries
perfect development OF Industrial or
ganization or other special circum-
stances make industrial conditions
substantially different and shall sug-
gest notifications, II any, which II
considers may be required to meet
the case of such countries"
The proceedings were largely formal
with speeches by Mr. Barnes, NJ ColIiard
and NJ. vandervelde. representing Brit
ish. French and Belgian labor interests.
In moving the adoption of the labor
movement Mr.. Barnes said It was an
ticipated that the first meeting OF the
permanent orga nlzations would be held
in Washington next October This an
nouncement brought President Wilson to
his feet with the assurance that such
a labor gathering in the American capt.
tai would have the warmest welcome
and support.
President Wilson again spoke briefly.
paying a warm tribute to the part
played by Samuel Gompers. president
of the American Federation of Labor,
in preparing the report
The motion adopting the report pro-
vides that each Government shall APP
point forthwith four delegates to at
tend the conference in October. Two
OF these delegates will represent the
Government. one OF them the employees
and the other employers. with two ad-
visers. including one woman on ques-
lions affecting women.
The preamble of the report says:
Conditions OF labor exist involving
such injustice. hardship and privation
to large numbers OF people as TO pro-
duce unrest no great that the peace and
harmony OF the world Is imperilled, and
the Improvement of those conditions is
urgently requested. as. for example. by
regulation OF hours of work. including
the establishment OF maximum work.
ing day and week. regulation OF the
labor supply. prevention of unemploy-
ment, provision of an adequate living
wage. protection OF the worker against
sickness. disease and injury arising out
of his employment, the protection of
chaldren and young persons and women,
provision for old age and injury. protec-
ton OF interests OF workers when EN-
ployed in other countries than their own,
recognition of the principle OF freedom
Of association and organizing OF techni-
CAL vocational. educational and other
measures"
The establishment OF a permanent
labor organization TO remedy industrial
evils and injustiees which mar the
present state OF society is viewed as in
dispensabe Toward the achievement OF
the object Of the League of Nations, the |
report says, every state a member of.the
league felt morally bound to accept the !
principles above enunciated and to par
ticipate In the labor organization as
condition to membership In the league
The programme for the first meeting
will embrace the principle OF the eight
hour day and the forty-eight hour week,
prevention of unemployment, women's
employment before and after childbirth, |
women and children's employment during |
the night or in unhealthy processes, a !
minimum age for the employment OF chill |
dren, the extension OF the international !
conventions adopted at Bern In 1906
prohibiting night work by women and
the use OF white phosphorus in the manu-
facture OF matches.
The report says that an international
labor office Is to be established at the
seat OF the League OF Nations, as a
part Of the league. TO collect and dis
tribute Information on the international
adjustment of conditions of Industrial
life and labor subjects which It Is pro-
posed TO bring before the conference the
conduct of special Investigations as or
dered by the conference the prepare
tion OF addenda for the conference the
publication Of a newspaper In the
French, English and other languages