Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-02-04
Must Consider Disposition
OF Strikes, Peace Treaty
And Sim FeinerS.

London, Feb. 4.-The reconstruction
parliament convenes today with q large
portion of the country's workers at
tempting to take reconstruction into
sheir own hands.
As organization of the newly elected
legislative body gets under way, Great
Britain snd Ireland face the constantly
growing menace of general strike
whlch is frankly admitted by many of
its instigators to be the first step to,
ward attempted socialization of the ns-
tions industries under bolsheviki re-
sime.
Aided to this situation was the EN-.
barrassing presence of the new "Irlsn
republic" which was formally declared
1T the recent Sim Fein "parliament'
in Dublin. That the British government
had rot evinced in any way its inten-
TORS toward this new neighbor only
added to the responsibilities of the new
reconstruction parliament in the
matter.
For a week parliament will devote
| itself to organization work including
the swearing in of members, hearing of
contests, etc. 1t will be formally open
cd by King George on February IL
So important are the problems imme-
diately confronting parliament that
Premier Lloyd-Georgc, despite the ur-
gencv of his presence at the peace con-
felences will arrive in London the last
of this week to confer with parliament
airy leaders and direct formulation of 4
Legislative program.
The vital questions which this par
Lament must pass upon are:
ratification of the peace treaty.
| Settlement Of the general strikes.
Definition Of its attitude toward the
Irish republic.
Adoption Of a general reconstruction
program.
Imports Included.
! Under the last division is included
the problem Of import restrictions with
possible departure from the free
trade" policy; free land for soldlers;
better housing and working conditions
and extension and maintenance of the
merchant marine.
Both the coalition and minority par
ties are pledged to put through socio-
logical reforms which will make the
country worthy of the "heroism Of the
men who have fought for her since
1914" The housing problem will be
one of the first things to be consider
ed.
Parliament will be asked to author
ize the building of thousands of cottag-
es within easy access to the industrial
regions. These cottages would be sold
to workmen on easy payments.
A ministry of health is be created
to keep tab on sanitary conditions in
Industrial quarters and see the work.
ers environment is made more pleas
ant.
The wage scale, it is hoped, will not
be allowed to drop back to its ante bel
lum hand to mouth level.
While there will be some difficulty
in fixing g. minimum wage 1t seems
practically certain that some figures
will be agreed on which will enable all
workmen to maintain much higher
standard ot living than hitherto mas
been possible.
Working MoMs Debated.
Regulation Of pciking hours will oe
debated ard s.nc maximum working
day fixed.
The labor ministry is helping de-
mobilized soldiers to find jobs. Whether
such assistance will develop into g reg
ular free labor agency with branche,
throughout the country Or whether tn,
bulk Of this work will be done by tho
trade unions, is still uncertain. Both
schemes have their advocates.
Quick formation and passage of the
industrial part Of the reconstruction
program will, it is believed, tend to.