Omaha daily bee., 1919-12-29
INDUSTRY BOARD
MAKES REPORT
OF ITS FINDINGS
Tentative Recommendations
for Establishment Of Ma
chinery to Prevent
Labor Disputes.

propose to do away with the ulti-
mate right to strike. to discharge,
on to. maintain the closed or the
open shop"
Nine Members in Body.
The national industrial tribunal,
suggested by the conference. would
consist of nine members appointed
by the president three each repre-
senting the employers, employees
and the public. The tribunal would,
in general, be a board of appeal,
whose decisions must be unanimous,
but provision was made for public
majority and minority reports IN
cases where no agreement was pos
sible.
Industrial regions, probably II in
number, conforming to the federal
reserve system, would be outlined
and a regional chairman appointed
tor each by the president. Vice
chairmen would be named by the
I. tribunal, il the work in any region
required II
Panels of employers and en-
ployes for each region would be
prepared by the secretary of com
merce and the secretary OF labor,
respectively. after conferences with
the employers and workers of that
region. Each panel, approved by
the president, would be CLASSIFIED by
industries among the employers and
by industries, with sub-classltlcatlon
into crafts, among the employees.
Z H. ~ Aafa q
order OF names in each panel.
When a dispute arose in any re-
n;on. the chairman would request
each side to submit it to a Regional!
board OF adjustment, consisting OF
the chairman, one representative
chosen bv each side, and two un-
challenged members OF each panel:
Appointment of representatives OF
both sides to any dispute would con-
stitute an agreement to continue the
status that existed when the trouble:
arose. Decisions of such regional
boards would have to be unanimous
or the question would be referred
by unanimous vote to an umpire
whose decision would be final, or to
the nationa! tribunal.
Regional Inquiry Board.
Refusal by any side to. a contro.,
,ersy to submit to adjustment would
result in the constitution OF a re-
pional board of inquiry, consisting
Of the, chairman, two members OF
each panel and the representative OF
either side that agreed to adjust,
:, ment II the other side consented
70 adjustment before the inquiry
was completed, the board OF inquiry
,5ould become board of adjust
ment bv appointment of the remain.
mo member. Otherwise, the board
Of inquiry would investigate the DIS
rute and make, public its findings foi
the beneft Of the public.
AN the presentation OF evidence,
8, ;he preliminary statement declared
each side shall have the right te
nresent its position through repre-
sentatives of its own choosing.
All the properly constituted board'
would have the right to subpoen,;
witnesses, examine them under oatn
Z and 10 reuuire the production OF pa
pers pertinent to the case.
Existing means of adjustment an'
4 Cancellation, whether federal or state
or established under mutual agree
,nents Of workers and employers ii
any industry, would not be affected
bv the creation OF the system sug
gested by}the conference.
With regard to public utilities, tn
conference made the following state
q ment:
Difficulties Presented.
"The plan here proposed present
greater difficulties in application t
1 certain public utilities than to com
& petitive industry. The continuou
operation Of public utilities is vita
10 public welfare. AS the. capital IN
vested is employed in public use, S
is the labor engaged IN public serV
zee: and the Withdrawal OF eithne
with the result of suspcnding servic
makes the people the real victim.
THE conference believes that
plan of tribunals or boards of ad
iustment and inquiry should be ar
8 fIjed to public utilities, out in IN
adaptation OF the plan two prot
lens present themselves. First, gov
ornamental regulation OF public util
ties is now usually confined to rate
and services. The conference cor
+ siders that there must be som
merging OF responsibility for regt
iasion OF rates and services and tn
settlement of wages and condition
of labor. Such coordination woul
give greater security to the publ
to employees, and to employer. Se'
sond is the problem whether som
method can be arrived at that WI
avert all danger of interruption.
service. These matters require tu
ther consideration before concre'
proposals are put forward"
After declaring that the govern
ment could not permit its junction
conducted in the interests of all tt
people, to be interrupted by col
certed cessation of work, the col
ference further affirmed that go
eminent employees concerned WI,
the administration of justice or II
maintenance of public safety or pu
lie order should not be permitted
affiliate with any organization whitt
authorized the use of the strike. A
essential part of the application
these principles, it was added. Wi
the establishment of tribunals
remedy promptly any grievanc
submitted by government workers.