The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-02-13
STUDY FUTURE
LABOR STATUS
Obstacle Expected to Provoke
Bitter Contest Passed
by Commission.
BRITISH DRAFT BROAD
Covers Uniformity of Rights
of Workmen and Keeping
Labor Demand at Level.

Paris, Feb. 13.-tThe agreement by
the commission on international leg
slation of the peace conference yes
terday to accept Article OF the
British draft of measures 10 settle
the future status of international
labor marks the passing over safely
of an obstacle which the labor lead
ers expected would provoke q bitter
contest, for the reason that 1t is the
most radical of the projects organ
lied labor is seeking to graft upon
the constitution of the society of ma
tions.
This article provides that at the
proposed international labor confer
ence the representatives or the gov
ernments. the employers and work.
ing people shall be entitled to speak
and vote independently without re-
gard to the views expressed by the
other representatives or their nation
and to have power to draw up con-
ventions binding on the nations rep
resented.
Warrants the Belief.
The rapid progress made upon the
remainder of the British draft, into
which will be Incorporated certain
features of the French labor plan,
appears to warrant the belief that
the essential aims Of the delegates of
both nations will be accepted in their
entirety by the commission.
The British draft covers a wide
field, including the following pro-
Visions:
Uniformity of the rights OF work.
men employed abroad. their protec-
tion against loss when in foreign
| country through the lapse of state
insurance against sickness. old age,
accidents, unemployment and similar
causes.
Prevention of UNEMPLOYMENT
through the adoption by the different
governments of a policy of distribu-
tion of orders for public works, so
as to keep the demand for labor at
an approximately uniform level.
The relief Of the unemployed
through a system of registration and
cooperation between employers In
different lines Of authority to meet
fluctuating labor demands.
Opportunities to unemployed young
workers for the continuance of their
| education at established centers.
A system of inspection of factories
| and workshops to insure the exc
cution of labor laws.
| The protection of children. youths
and women with educational oppor-
tunities for the children.and the reg
ulation .of night work for the youths
The limitation of the working shift
for young persons to half that Of
adults with no overtime or night
work.
The recognition Of the rights of
workingmen to combine politically,
and the right of trades unions to
participate in politics.
Working hours to be fixed by laws
in each state with an international
standard as the minimum.
The regulation of home work In
small workshops, or in sweatshops
to be attended to by each state, in
view Of the difficulty of settling this
problem by international legislation.
An international code regulating
labor conditions in the mercantile
marine under every flag to be
worked out by n special maritime
commission of the league of nations
in continuous session to take up new
points.
1t seems to be agreed that the
wholly different wage and money
standards of the east and west would
make the definite fixing of condi-
tions as TO these matters impossible.
As to right of workingmen to COM
bine the British view is that this
at least should be insisted upon by
the working classes, although 1T now
is denied by Japan.
The measures OF hygiene, insur-
ancn and the regulation of the work
of children, it is also contended,
ought to apply to native Asiatic Ia
Dor. The British plan also contem-
plates the creation of a permanent
international commission to fix min
imum wages according to the con-
ditions in the various regions, and
to make a special study of native
labor problems.
It Is proposed to include In the
league Of nations plan thei constitu-
ton of an international parliament
of delegates from the so
cietv Of nations. The abolition of |
training in schools and the !
exchange of university !
students also is proposed.
The French labor proposals In .
clude the recruiting of labor through !
national employment bureaus, pro- |
hibition upon the labor of children |
under fourteen years of age. prohi- !
bition of night work by women, and |
a maximum eight hour working day |
in factories. where the furnaces are |
always lighted. together with laws /
regulating hygiene and the safety !
of the workers.