Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-11-17
Urge Permanent
Plan Conferences
help=Employers

ANS" i vi n AVN. 1O-lNCCOS US
both employers and employees that
the desire to achieve national pros
perity rather than to enforce maxi
mum selfish returns should be the
controlling motives in Inousuy IS
| recommended in a report OF a COM
mitiec of the Merchants Association
of New York, which. has been study
ing the industrial situation. The re-
port. which was made public tonight,
has been ndorsed unanimously by
the directors of the association.
The community, as sucn.' says
the report, has a right to insist that
| industry be carried on in the interest
of all citizens rather than for the
sole benefit Of those directly engaged
in it. The permanent welfare of all
citizens depends on natiOnai prosper
ito. which Is impossible unless there s
maximum production at minimum
per unit cost without impairment
either of proper living standards of
employers, or the ability of the en-
on their investment"
The report also urges the establish
ment of q recognized and permanent
method of conferences between the
employee I'D his employer. No. plan
of conferences is suggested except
that "they should be worked out
jointly by employer and employees,
and not prescribed by the employer"
The committee expresses the opinion
that wages and working conditions,
including steps to promote continu-
Gus and permanent employment, es-
pecially in the case Of the introduce
ton of new machinery and processes
and plant conditions affecting health
and general welfare of the workers.
and plant conditions affecting health
and general welfare Of the workers,
are a proper subject for discussion at
those conferences
All wage earners, skilled and un-
skilled" says the report, in return
for fair days work. have the right
TO living wage sufficient to insure
the workers and their families the op-
portunity to live in health and com
fort in accord with the concepts and
standards of American life. Con-
tinuity of employment at norma,
wages should be maintained up to the
point where permanent prosperity
and stability of the business-rather
than immediate profits-would be en-
dangered thereby"
Discussing profit sharing systems
and participation of employees in in
dustrial management, the report says
that they deserve the careful atten-
ton of employers but characterizes
them "as merely aids. not remedies
ANY PLAN" the report adds. 1.-The i'm
PRODUCTION. continuation and final in
depreciation of which rests solely
upon the volition of the employer
will not entirely eliminate dissatis
faction, because it lacks the elements
of certainty and permanence and
there is no power of enforcement on
the part of the employee" Any such
, plan to be OF permanent value, il
says. mist receive the unqualified app
prevail of both employer and employe
Features of the present Industrial
system which retard it's amicable de-
velopment are classified by the com
mittee as: THE short sighted deter
mination too often found on the part
of employers and employees selfishly
to get maximum results without con-
sideration by either of the interests
of the other. or of the public. as the
controlling motive in industry; lack
Of understanding and mutual conf
dence of employer and employees, and
the law of supply and demand as the
determining factor in fixing wages
and conditions of employment"