The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-31

.dent Of the peace conference.
pire, whose decision would be final,
or to the national tribunal.
Refusal by any side to controver-
sy to submit to adjustment would re-
suit in the constitution Of regional
board, inquiry would become a board
Of adjustment by appointment of the
remaining member. Otherwise, the
board Of inquiry would investigate the
dispute and make public its findings
for the benefit of the public.
''In the presentation Of evidence,
the preliminary statement declared,
leach side shall have the right to
present its position through represen--
tatives Of it's own choosing.
All the properly constituted boards
would have the right to subpoena wit
nesses, examine them under oath, and
to require the production Of papers
pertinent to the case.
Existing means Of adjustment and
Cancellation, whether federal or state,
or established under mutual agree
ments of workers and employers in
any industry, would not be affected by
by the conference.
With regard to public utilities, the
conference made the following state
ment:
''The plan here proposed presents
greater difficulties in application to
certain public utilities than to compe-
titive industry. The continuous oper-
alton of public utilities is vital to pub
lie welfare. AS the capital invested
as employed in public use. so is the
labor engaged in public service; and
the withdraw Of either with the re-
suit Of suspending service makes the
people the real victim.
The conference believes that plan
of tribunals or boards Of adjustment
and inquiry should be applied to pub
lie utilities, but in the adaptation Of
the plan two problems present them
selves. First, governmental regula-
ton of public utilities is now usually
confined to rates and services. The
conference considers that there must
be some merging of responsibility for
regulation Of rates and services and
the settlement Of wages and conditions
of labor. Such coordination would
give greater security to the public, to
I; employee, and to employer. Second,
is the problem whether some method
can be arrived at that will avert all
danger Of interruption to service.
These matters require further consid-
Grafton before concrete proposals are
put forward"
After declaring that the government
could not permit it's functions, con-
Quoted in the interests of all the peo-
pie. to be interrupted by concerted ces-
sation Of work, the conference further
affirmed that government employees
concerned with the administration Of
Justice or the maintenance Of public
safety or public order should not be
permitted to affiliate with any organi-
zation which authorized the use of the
strike. An essential part of the ap-
plication of these principles, IT was
added. was the Establishment Of tritu-
nails to remedy promptly any gricv-
:
workers.
Legislation Of the nation, the states
and the municipalities" the confer
] ence said, Should be improved to
prevent delay in hearings and to en-
able speedy action when there are
grievances
When President Wilson summoned
! the conference, Of which Secretary
Wilson is chairman and Herbert
Hoover. vice chairman. it was ex-
pressly denied the right to consider
any existing industrial disputes. which
was the question which wrecked the
first industrial conference. While no
specific references to recent industrial
troubles were made. several recon-
mendations and statements Of the
conference reflected the experience Of
the steel strike and the Boston police
strike.
Other members of the conference
are: Martin H G1ynn. Thomas W.
Gregory. Richard Hooker. Stanley
King, Samuel ". Mccall, Henry NJ.
Rohinsch. julius RosenwaId, Oscar
S. Straus. Henry c. Stuat. F. W. Taus-
sing. William o. Thompson. Henry J.
Waters. George w. Wikersham, and
Owen D. Young, with DR.. Henry r.
Seascr as executive secretary.