Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-10

we recommend That Congress be
| advised that it is the earnest desire
Of the organized labor movement and
of all Americas workers that the De-
i'artment OF Labor be provided with
adequate funds for performing the i'm
portant work which dovolves upon it,"
The council recommended to the con-
vent'on the Endorsement OF government
ownership Of tho railroads. after set
ting forth in great detail various sus-
gestions about the railroads from diff
rerent sources.
packing MONOPOLY" the council quoted
the report Of the Federal Trade Com
Commerce Committee seemed to show
conclusively the existence OF a combi-
T rat,Gn WHICH ,hs not only controls and
hogs and other meat but also eggs
r1Sas or shsese rice s
and wool" 1t is then stated that in so
far as this combination restricts the
necessaries. the laboring. people of the
country are adversely affected. and the
to he 1eepmeS 2ne OF vital concern
Honrdcd Leather During War.
1t is charged in the report that the
packers during the war shortage of
leather Leaf r. when 1t was difficult, to fur
quantities OF hides that 1t was impos.
sible to find proper storage room for
m The dis,, deveiopment Of Armour x
defnte recommendations are made by
the executive council.
soane q are s of eE ~ fns
dealing with tax exemption for CO.
o opera national war housing. pro
initiative and referendum. convict
labor. workmens compensation. gov
prVeses for sodiers ana Ma1 wo and
ers. wheat prices. excessive public Dor
rowinss. motion, pictures censorship.
TENS.
A eomplete report, of an investisa-
Garment Workers Union also was sub
mitted.
Health Insurance Discussed.
On the subject of health insurance.
the executive council recommended
that ii be given further time to com
pisse ,i it's study ,nin Of the various con
to make public it's views at later
date dat! in the, name of the American
Federation OF Labor.
Considerable progress was reported
IN the matter of securing a shorter
work day for various trades and occu-
trend toward the general establishment
81 o. the ne shorter work day developed By
during the period of reconstruction"
The executive council recommended
that the entire matter he taken up by
and action.
The labor reconstruction program
formulated by a committee appointed
by the st. Paul convention, and made
public last December. is printed in fun
and Endorsed in the executive .council's
report rep international labor relations
accepted. which have been announced
| from time TO time, are set forth.
Labor's Efforts In War.
Under the heading Labor and
Peacc. the report quotes the DECLARE
1,on issued by the American Federation
labor's efforts toward the war. and con
tinues:
Turning from war to peace upon
me signing of the arm!stice. a condi-
one that had long been feared by or
ganized labor. 1t was made apparent
very early that there had been no ade-
Tor the transition from a war basis IN
peace basis in industry. and that, as
result. period of Industrial con
fusion and unemployment was at hand
In addition. there were pronounce
menus from high sources among en-
powers that extensive reduction Of
wage, would be undertaken. The
people that they should have been able
during the war, because of increased
wages, to save enough TO carry them
'hr1ugh the period OF readjust ment
These statements betray either
ignorance or desire to willfully de-
ceive, because they completely ignored
the fact that the rising cost of living
naa ahsorhed whatever increase in
wages had been secured, and in many
cases went much beyond the point OF
ABSORPTION enecting an actual decrease
IN purchasing power of the Individual
declarations of a policy OF wage re.
duction came TO our attention at
laredo TEX President Gompers there
introduced the subject in open con
ference, and declared that labor would
resist TO the utmost any policy Of wage
reduction.
Lahor's Decisive Attitude
This position has been affirmed
since that on many occasions, and il
| is due TO this prompt and decisive an
sWer to this challenge fully sustained
by labor that there has not been a
general assault on wages By employers
who cannot comprehend the trend Of
the times.