Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-29
SUGGESTS REMEDY
TO STOP STRIKES
President Wilson's Second Labor
Conference Makes Pre-
liminary Report.
WOULD SETTLE ALL DISPUTES
Plan Calls for Creation Of Board
Of Nine Representing All
Interests.
WOULD SETTLE ALL DISPUTES
LEV Eniyersal Scryice

WASHINGTON, Dec. :S.-Thc crea-
ton OF "a national industrial tribunal
and regional boards on inquiry and ad-
justmcnt for the settlement OF all dis
nute3 between capital aud labor Is the
chief recommendation in the prelimi-
nary report OF President WILSON'S Sec
rnd Industrial conference.
Asserting that the public has Ions,
pccn uneasy about the power OF great
employers. and is fast becoming un-
easy about the power OF great labor or
Saniaationa. the report, which was
made public today, declares the com
nunity must be assured against the
domination by either. and piovision is
made for the representation OF the pub
i!c on the proposed Industrial tribunal.
The plan OF the conference is. in real
nationai Industrial court, with sub
aidiary agencies 10 assist IL in main
aiming, peace between labor and CAPT
tai. and thereby safeguarding the pub
lie Interests.
Discu.aion Is Invited.
While the plan is now In It's elc-
mentary stages, the purpose OF making
i public 1T this time IL TO invite the
iullcst discussion from men and women
a every walk OF life. The conference
desires criticism especially, ana when
II rcconvcnes on January u. Il in
ENDS to take UP all ideas that have
meantime been subm ittcd 10 II.
The national industrial tribunal"
says uhe report. shall have its head
quarters in Washington. and shall he
e1,nP2sed f1n i,sei,an Of nine members chosen py
senate. Three shall represent the crn-
pioyers OF the country ana shall lie ap-
pointcd upon noninat!on OF the Secrc-
iarT OF Commerce. Three shall repre-
sent employees. and shall be appointed
l.ipon nomination OF the/Secretary OF
OF the public interest. Not more than
ivc OF the members shall DC OF the
same political party.
Tribunal Board OF Appeal.
'"rha fri nal l,a1l ~. ;,
yoaTd OF appeal. Its determinations on
disputes coming 10 it upon an appeal
shall be by unanimous vote. In case IL
8 unable to reach a determination, 1t
shall make and publish ma jority and
minority reports. which shall be mat
tcrs OF public record"
In providing for the operation OF the
proposed system. the conference sug-
sests the division OF the United States
INTO twelve districts similar. so tar as
boundaries are concerned. to those cs-
tablished under the Federal reserve
system.
Each OF these regions would have a
chairman appointed by the President.
lie would be the representative Of the
public Interest, and would serve for
period OF three years, with the chief
tNecutiNe exercising the privilege OF
Isappointment. AS bulwark to the
dust-ia tribunal could, at its discre-
''on' choosc one o. more vice chair
men and provide for the the establish n
lneHt OF additional regional boards
iike Jury Service.
Somewhat akin TO jury service is the
method suggested for the selection OF
fpresent.ativHs OF employers and en-
pioyees for the regional boards. The
secretary of Commerce and the Secre-
iary OF Labor would be authorized TO
prepare panels for tho approval OF the
President, and upon service on
regional board mans name would au-
tpinattcIiiy go 10 the bottom of the
Fh*re viii be three members on each
cSlonal board, including the chairman.
and all decisions must be the result of
a unanimous vote. In the event IL
cannot do This IT is privileged TO select
an umpire, whosc decision Shall be finai,
Or appeal the case to the national trj-
bunal
Provision is likewise made for The
tIanstormhtIon OF regional board OF
any time either side TO a controvcrsv
aus TO name a representative and also
TOR Its retranS formation back to an
adjustment board.
Takes Up Coal and Railroads
In connection with the coal strike
and the rumblings Of a threatened
raliroad strike. the report has some
striking things TO say. 1t would vest
It's boards with powers now held by
certain branches OF the government
This is what ii has to say on the sub
''No plan here proposed presents
t,a greater di'licuitiGs in application to
iitlvc Industry. The continuous opera
ton of public utilities is vital to pub
nc welfare. AS the capital invested is
employed in public use, so is the Ia bSr
engaged in public service, and tjh
withdrawal of either with the result Of
suspending service makes the pcoDlc
The real victims.
While continuous operation of all
utinties is conducive to general con-
yenience of the people. that of some
OF them is essential TO their very exist
encc. OF the latter class the railways
are u conSpicuous example, and bear
;hc same relation To the body polit;c
as do the arteries to the human BODY
Suspension of Utilities breeds Anarchy
suspension produces practical. So
pose hardships even to the noint of
starvation upon Il largo section of the
community. 'nhc interruption in such
essential public utilities is int olcrablc
n, ,rih,tnaIs ne EontercncG believes that plan
and inquiry should be applied to pub
.ic utilities, but in the adaptation of
INC plan two problems present them
selves. FIRST, governmental reGusa-
tfons OF public utilities Is now ,IsI,aiIv
confined TO rates and services. The con
ference considers that there must be
some merging of responsibility for reg
nlation or rates and services and the
settlement .of wages and conditions Of
greater security TO tho public, TO en-
plnycc and to the employer
Second Is the problem whether some
method can be arrived at that will
avert all danger OF interruption to SER
vice. These matters require further
consideration before concrete proposals
are put forward"
Six-Ycnr Term for Members.
a siS-ycar term is fixed for the mem
hers or the national tribunal, but at the
outset three members, Including ono
from each group. would he appointed