New-York tribune., 1919-02-14
Bishops for Workingmen's
Participation In, Eventual
Ownership OF, Industry
Urge Observation-Disclosures
Assistance for Troops. Equal
Pay for Women and IN
surance Scheme Proposed

bishops of the Church. has declared
labor in the management and eventu-
silly in the ownership of industry
In making public its reconstruction
programme, the committee urges the
gradual adoption of this ideal as a
measure beyond the more immediate
problems with which its programme
deals.
AS more immediate steps toward the
solution of the labor problem, the COM
mittee advocates the adoption of mini
mum wage schedules. maintenance in
general Of wage scales existing during
the war and the permanent establish
ment of the Federal War Labor Board
and Employment Service
These bishops, representing and
asting in the name of the Catholic
iueEarchy of the United States, also
recommended the establishment in this
country of the Rochdale system OF
cooperative stores and competition by
the government against profiteering
combinations to reduce the cost of
living. Socialism, they said, meaning
bureaucracy, political tyranny, incffi-
cheney and industrial decadence was
not likely to supplant the present eco
nomic system, but radical changes.
including the partnership of labor in
II dpstrial management were vitally
necessary to safeguard peace and in
sire popular contentment
While favoring, IN the interests of
health and morality, prohibition of
child labor and reduction to the small
est practical limits Of the employment
of women in industry. the committee
urged equal pay for women doing equal
work with men.
1t declared also for insurance of
workers against illness, old age and
unemployment, until wages are high
enough to tide over such periods, for
abolition Of monopolies, for continu-
anc' of heavy taxes on large incomes
ARD excess profits, for cooperative Nor
efandislng in necessities, TO reduce the
Dost of living. and for government
assisted colonization of unoccupied
arm lands by demoBiized soldiers and
sailors.
Unrest Called Menace
The report, entitled. Social Recon
struction General Review of the
Problems and Survey of Remedies. >"
was issued in the names of Bishops
Peter }. Muldoon. of Rockford, H.; Jo-
seph Schrembs, of Toledo. Ohio; Will
Of
Auxiliary Bishop Patrick J. HAYES. of
New York. As members Of the War
councils Administrative Committees
trey represent the Catholic hierarchy
OF America in general direction Of war
work in this country and overseas.
Declaring that "the deep unrest so
emphatically and widely voiced through
cut the world is most serious men
ace the bishops held up social Justice
and contented people" as the only
safeguard Of peace
The authors of the report disclaimed
any attempt to formulate a compre-
heHslve scheme of reconstruction Their
recommendations, it was stated were
confined to reforms that seemed: to be
desirable and also obtainable within a
reasonable time. and to those general
principles which should serve as a
guide for more distant DEVELOPMENTS. ."
approve Lane Ideas
Discussing the demobilization of the
military forces, the report indorsed the
suggestion OF Secretary of the Interior
Lane, that discharged men should be
gwen an opportunity to work at GOOD
wages in reclaiming unused lands
sfterward to be assisted by government
loans to establish themselves as farm
ers. 1t credited the Federal Employ
rnent Service with "a fair DEGREE Of
development and efficiency during +he
war" and urged that Congress continue
and strengthen the organization as a
means OF nelplng to solve the ever
present problem of unemployment.
The bishops rated the National War
Labor Board as "one Of the most hene-
hciai governmental organizations of the
war" It's efforts, they asserted. had
prevented innumerable strikes and
raised wages 30 decent levels in MANY
industries"
Its main guiding principles" the
report continued, have been a family
HVing wage for all male adult labor
efs' recognition of the right of labor
10 organize and to deal with EMPLOYERS
through It's chosen representatives. and
no coercion Of non-union lahorare ~,
members Of the union. The war Isbo,.
noaro ought to be continued in exist
ehce by Congress and endowed with all
the power for effective action that II
.@dh @ possess under the Federal Consti
tution. The principles, methods mo-.
cninery and results of this institut;o,
constitute a definite and farreachino
gam Tor social justice. No part If th'is th;ss
advantage should be lost or given ~
N time Of peace" "P
Safeguards for Women
While holding that "mcre iust;ce -
say nothing Of chivalry," dictates ths,
women who filled in industry the place =
made vacant by men called to war
should not be compelled TO sufFcr arv
greater loss or inconvenience than IL
absolutely necessary" in the readiust-
ment under peace conditions. the rcpor.
oeciarcd that no female worker should
remain IN an occupation harmful to
heaitn Or morals. In this classification
stree car operation and the cleaning
oi locomotives were especially men.
toned '"'''-
An Efficient national employment ser
v.ee, = was stated, would be able IN
sn'It 20 domestic and oeher suitable
hnes of activity women war workers
"nost circumstances required them Ia
continue az wage earnere.
Inc committee asserted that In four
1pdustrles directly connected with tba
carrying on Of the war. wavew bad
reached a plane upon which they could
rot possibly continue for this 0rade
c' oeepDat'on,' but declared that "thc