The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-08

thirds vote must be submitted to
the lawmaking authority in every
State participating. Each Govern
ment may either enact the terms
into law; approve the principle. but
modify them to local needs; leave
the actual legislation in case of a
Federal State to local legislatures;
or reject the convention altogether
without further obligation.
The international labor office Is
established at the seat OF the
League of Nations as part of it's
organization. 1t is to collect and
distribute information on labor
throughout the world and prepare
agenda for the conference. 1t will
publish a periodical in French and
English. and possibly other lam
guages. Each State agrees to make
to 1t for presentation to the con-
ference an annual report OF meas
ures taken to execute accepted con-
ventions. the governing body in its
executive. 1t consists OF twenty
four members, twelve representing
the Governments. six the employers
and six the employees, to serve for
three years
On complaint that any Govern
ment has failed to carry out a con-
vention to which 1t Is a party. tho
governing body may make inquiries
directly to that Government. and in
case the reply Is unsatisfactory may
publish the complaint with COM
ment. A complaint by one Gov
eminent against another may be
referred by the governing body to
a commission of inquiry nominated
by the socretary-general OF the
League. II the commission report
fails to bring satisfactory action,
the matter may be taken to a per-
manent court OF international jus
tice for final decision. The chief
reliance for securing enforcement
Of the law will be publicity. with
possibility of economic action in the
background.
The first meeting OF the confer.
ence will take place in October.
1919, at Washington, to discuss the
eight hour day or forty-eight hour
week prevention OF unemployment;
extension and application OF the
international conventions adopted
at Berne in 1906 prohibiting night
work for women and the use OF
white phosphorus in the manufac-
ture OF matches; and employment
of women and children at night or
in unhealthy work, Of women before
and after childbirth. including ma
ternity benefit. and OF children as
regards minimum age.
Labor Clauses.
Nine principles OF labor condi-
tions were recognized on the ground
that "the we'll being. physical and
moral, OF the industrial wage earners
is Of supreme international impor-
lance" With exceptions necessitated
by differences Of climate. habits and
economic development, they include
the guiding principle that labor
should not be regarded merely as a
commodity or article Of commerce;
right of association Of employers
and employees: a wage adequate to
maintain reasonable standard of
life: the eight hour day or forty
eight hour week: a weekly rest Of at
least twenty-four hours, which should
include Sunday wherever practi-
cable abolition of child labor and
assurance of the continuation of the
education and proper physical de-
velopment OF children; equal pay
for equal work as between men and
women; equitable treatment of all
workers lawfully resident therein.
including foreigners, and a Eystem
OF inspection in which women should
take part