New Britain herald., 1919-02-13
MINIMUM WAGE IS
 BEING ADVOCATED
Catholic Bishops Discuss Recon StruCtiOn Methods for Country

Washing gton, Feb, l&.--Adoption of minimum wage schedules. main tenance in general of the wage levels obtained during the war and perma- nent eSta blishment of the National War La bor Board and the United States Employment Service were ad- Nocated $ essen tials of a just recon struction in a report made public to- day by four Catholic bishops, consti- tuting the administrative committee of the National Catholic War Council.
 While faVoring, in the interests of health and morality, prohibition of child labor and reduction to the smallest practical limits of the em- ployment of women in industry, the committee urged equal pay for women doing equal work with men. It de- clared, also, for insurance of workers against illness, old age and unemploy- ment until wages are high enough to tide over such periods, for abolition of monopolies, for continuance Of heavy taxes on large incomes and excess profits, for cooperative merchandising in necessities to reduce the cost of living and for government assisted colonization of unoccupled farmIands by emobilzed soldiers and sailors.
 As a measure outside it's present reconstruction program, but of value , in solving the problems of capital and labor, the committee urged gradual participation by labor in the manage ment and eventually in the ownership of industry.
 The report, entitled Social Recon struction; 8 General Review of the Problems and Survey of Remedies" was issued In the names of Bishops Peter J. Muldoon, of Rockford, Ill.,; Joseph Schrembs. of Toledo, O.; Will jam T. Russell. of Charleston, $. C.. and Auxiliary Bishop Patrick J. Hayes, of New York. As members of the War Councils administrative com n1fttee, they represent the Catholic hierarchy of America in general di- rection of war work in this country and overseas.
 Unrest Is Serious Menace.
 Declaring that the deep unrest emphatically and widely voiced throughout the world is a most seri- ous menace" the bishops held up "so- cial justice and a contented people as the only safeguard of peace Tife authors of the report disclaimed any attempt to form 8 com prehenSlye scheme of reconstruction. Their rec ommend dations. it was stated, were confined to reforms that seemed to be desirable and also obtainable with in a. reasonable time, and to those gen. eral principles which should serve as 3, guide for more distant develop ments."
 Discussing the dem obilzation of the military forces. the report indorsed the suggestion of Secretary of the h. etertor Lane that discharged men should be given an opportunity to work at good wages in reclaiming un- used lands afterward to be assisted by government loans to establish them selves as farm CTS. It credited the Federal Employmen Service with "a fair degree Of develop rnent and efficiency during the war and urged that Congress con- tinue and strengthen the organization as means of helping to solve the ever present problem of unemploy- ment.
 Praises War Labor Board.
 The bishops rated the National War Labor Board as "one of the most bene- ficial government organizations of the war.'' Its efforts, they asserted, had prevented innumerabe strikes and raised wages to decent levels in many industries
 Its main guiding principles" tho report continued. have been family living wage for all male adult laborers recognition of the right of labor to or ganize. and to deal with employers through it's chosen representatives,: - --==="-=-------------=---------