New-York tribune., 1919-02-14
Wages Depend on
Production Rate,
Report Declares
Increased Efficiency Only
Way to Catch Up With
Cost of Living, Says Indus
trial Conference Board

BOSTON, Feb. ia sharp, though
possibly short, period Of unemploy-
ment is predicted in a report issued to-
day by the National Industrial Confer
ence Board, on "Problems Of Indus
trial Readjustment in the United
States"
One of the most immediate problems
OF readjustment. according to the re-
port, is that presented bv the prevail
ing scale of wages. 1t is pointed out
that so long as wages remain at the
current level downward revision of
living costs is exceedingly difficult
An increase in the efficiency of individ
ual production to such degree that
employers will be warranted in paving
relatively high wages is regarded as
the most promising solution of the
present wage problem.
=, ms, says the report, "seems to be
me only means of escaping the vicious
circle by which an increase in the cost
or hVlng IS used as a reason for de-
manding higher wages, which. in turn
are important factors in high prices of
goods, resulting in still another rise in
the cost of commodities consumed bv
the worker"
Some Recommendations Made
Among the recommendations made
IN the report are:
Inc necessity of a careful ANALYSIS
OF the relation of hours of work to
efficiency of production and to the
health and social needs of workers.
The advisibility of establishing an
lndustrial court. or some other form
OF tribunal, for the settlement of labor
controversleS, to succeed the National
War Labor Board.
Inc retention of women workers in
new fields of employment
The advlsability Of amending immt-
grafton laws, on the one hand to at
tract large number of workers from
/ abroad, or, on the othcr hand. to pro-
Vlde stlll more rigid restrictions
sort.
The development of market for
foreign government securities, which
'he report holds must largely be ac-
cepted IN payment for goods sold to
NATIONS whose resources have been
heavily drained by the war
Speaking of the uncmployment prob
lom, the report says: "Although She
demobilization of the military forces
now overseas approximately 1900. 900
is likely to extend over such a period
or time as not to seriously co:npucate
,ho immediate situation, the rand de-
mobilization Of the 100000 men who
were in military camps at the signing
OF the armistice and the necessity of
providing work for a still larger num-
Der of civilian war workers throws a
heavy strain on industry, espec tally in
view of the high scale OF wages. lhls
is likely to be felt most seriously in
the iron, steel, textile and other majo
branches of industry employing com
mon labor on large sclle.'
While the immediate employment
outlook is confused, the report notes
that some observers maintain the opn-
ion that in the not far distant future
there may be a shortage Of labor rather
than lack of work.
More Work Than Workers
SO far as agriculture is concerned it
is pointed out that the pr ,bem seems
to be to find a sufficient number OF
workers rather than to provide en-
ployment. The shortage is accentuatei 1
by disposition on the part of some
returning soldiers formerly engaged in
agriculture to seek work in the cities.
hopeful note is sounded in the re-
port when it comes to discussion Of
the outlook for foreign trade. History
indicates, it says, that despite the
strong feeling engendcred by the war,
the nations engaged-all of whom are
keenly awake to the Importance of for-
eign trade-will resume commercial re
lations without any period of interrup-