Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-02-13
ADOPTION OF MINIMUM WAGE AND
ESTABLISHMENT OF PERMANENT
WAR LABOR BOARD ADVOCATED

Washington, Feb. 13.-Adoption of
minimum wage schedules, mainten-
ance in general of the wage levels
obtained during the war and perma-
nent establishment of the National
War Labor board and the United
states EMPLOYMENT. Service were ad-
vocated as essentials of a just recon-
struction in q report made public to-
day by four Catholic bishops, consti-
tuting the Administrative Committee
Of the National Catholic War Council.
While favoring, in the interests of
health and morality, prohibition Of
child labor n reduction to the
smallest practical limits of the m
ployment Of women in industry, the
committee urged equal pay for wom-
en- doing equal work with men. It
declared also for insurance of work.
crs against illness, old age, and un-
employment until wages are high
enough to tide owe such periods, for
abolition of monopolies, for continu-
ance OF heavy taxes on large incomes
and excess profits, for cooperative
merchandising in necessities to re-
duce the cost of living and for gov
ernment-assisted colonization OF UNI
occupied farm lands by demobilized
soldiers and sailors.
AS a measure outside its present re-
So''S SeAo pAOSAoAA DuJ Va value III
solving the problems of capital and
labor the committee urged gradual
participation by labor in the manage
ment and eventually in the ownership
Of industry.
The report, entitled Social Recon
struction; a General Review Of the
Problems and Survey Of Remedies
was issued in the names Of Bishops
Peter j. Muldoon, OF Rockford, ILL.,;
VNcnV1 . - IS T-N .
William T. Russell. of Charleston, s.
G., n Auxiliary Bishop Patrick j.
Hayes Of New York. AS members Of
the War Councils Administrative
Committee they represent the Cath
Ollie hierarchy of America in general
direction of war work in this country
n overseas.
Unrest is Menace.
Declaring that 9TH deep unrest so
emphatically and widely voiced
throughout the world is q most seri-
social justice and a contented peo-
ple' as the only safeguard of peace.
The authors Of the report disclAim-
ed any attempt to formulate a COM
prehensive scheme of reconstruction.
Their recommendations, it was stat
ed, were confined to reforms that
seemed to be desirable n also OBJ
talnable within a reasona bic time,
and to those general principles which
should serve as a guide. for more dis
tant developments"
Discussing the rehabilitation of
the military forces, the report indors-
ed the suggestion of Secretary of the
Interior Eane that discharged men
should be given IN opportunity to
work at good wages in retaining I'M
used lands, afterward to be assisted
by government loans to establish
themselves as farmers. It credited
the Federal Employment Service
with "a fair degree Of development
and efficiency during the war" and
urged that congress continue and
strengthen the organization as a
means Of helping to solve the ever
present problem Of unemployment.
The bishops rated the National War
Labor Board as zone OF the most
beneficial governmental organizations
of the war" It's efforts, they assert
ed. had prevented innumerable
strikes and raised wages to decent
levels in many industries"
Its main guiding principles" the
report continued. have been a fam
lily living wage for all male adultElab-
orers; recognition Of the right Of la
Dor to organize. and to deal with EN-
ployers through its chosen repre-
sentatives: and no coeRcion Of non
union laborers by members OF the
union. The War Labor Board ought