The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-02-19
Industrial Legislation Must Settle Dis
putes and Provide Proper Living
and Working Conditions

tries where the public's interest is
paramount, strikes and lockouts
should not be permitted in any case
but proper machinery should be put
into effect to provide for labors be-
ing able to present its views properly
and to compensate for the loss of the
strike weapon.
> Fundamental rules of hygiene
and safety to person must be enforc-
ed.
3. The compensation laws must be
supplemented to include Industrial
disease as well as industrial accidents,
and these compensation laws should
be made more uniform.
4. Proper living conditions must be
provided
.. Provision should be made to
provide in some way, that win not
put a premium on laziness. for old
age and unemployment insurance
6. Laws governing child labor and
working hours for women should be
made more stringent and uniform
throughout the country
T. a commission consisting of men
of the highest standard and who have
Lad experience in connection with la
Dor matters should be appointed by
congress. with wide powers This
commission should be bipartisan
as to politics and should be made up
of representatives both of the en-
poyer and the employee, with chair
man to be appointed by the govern
ment and to represent the public. 1t
would be we'll to have these nomina-
tionstions made from list submitted
10y representative bodies such as the
chambers of commerce and associa-
tons Interested in the solution of this
great problem such as the civic fed
Grafton. the American association for
labor legislation and other civic bod
les. This commission should be pro-
vided with ample funds to make
thorough investiga. of working
conditions wages COS of living and
causes of Industrial unrest
1t should be so constituted as to pro-
vide for itself sufficient authority and
dignity to draw the leaders Of thought
along these lines. It should not be in |
any way subject to political machin-
alton, and the tenure of Office should |
he during good behavior and not for |
specific periods, so that, like our su-
preme court, the commission will be /
aloof from political turmoil
Employers Responsibility.
The employer has in this crisis an |
enormous responsibility. He has dur
ing the last two decades increased his !
vision, and many employers have pro-
vided means for better industrial re-
ations, decent working and living .
conditions. and all that these mean,
out the employer can not stop with
what has been accomplished; he must
90 ahead along progressive lines.
The companies in which my firm is
argely interested and control are fair
examples of the work already done in
his direction. They have in general I
maintained the open shop, that is, no.
DISCRIMINATION is made between a
lniont and non union man, taking the
position that a man has a right to
Gin any society he desires SO long as
hat society is a lawful one and does |!
lot aim to overthrow the American
government. In order to give specific
Examples Of the work done by pro-
-ressive employers, 1 will outline the 0
ttitude of some of the companies in
which I am interested. L
The American Smelling & Refining b
has established its continu- {
us operations the eight-hour day. t
that, where man has to y
'ork hard and continuously. eight Y
ours is a fair days work IL
1t has put into effect life-insur- g
nee and pension plan with a view of r
roviding for its employees and their p
antilles something toward the evil O
ay when death or old age wtihdraws f.
ne provider of the family from the
ayroll. In general these plans are h
S follows. t
Insurance and Pensions.
TO day pay workers the following a
,hedule of death benefits is in force: O
Married Single it
or an employe h
year in SERVICES 400 5000 n
or an employe o
years in service. 500 300
or an employe d
8 years in service 600 400 t,
or an employee o
years in service. 1000 500 h
or an employe Q
years in service. 100 $50 ii
Salaried employees are insured in h
lie sum of one years salary up to a h
nit of $4,000. 81
Pensions: Pensions are granted to q,
nployes who have reached sixty s,
ears, in case of males, and fifty years II
case of females, and who have been il
the service for twenty years or II
ore. For each year Of active service w
/ allowance of per cent of the av- f
age pay during the ten years next et
eceding retirement but no pension ia
all exceed $500 per annum or be Fl