Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-12-28


(for women); bureau of statistics.
Personnel. The director or person
in charge of the entire department OF
labor and industries is appointed by
the governor, with the aid and advice
of the senate. He is responsible for
the success of this department. He
in turn appoints the persons in charge
of the three subdivisions and the
heads of each of these subdivisions
appoints his assistants and employees
with whom he works 1t is bust
nesslike arrangement, with the re
sponsibility definitely fixed through
out. We have not attempted to
change the substantive law or func-
tons of these agencies except in the
industrial relations.
Industrial Relations. The princi-
pal findings of the commission are III
corporated in the conclusions re!at-
ing to industrial relations. We have
proposed a division or bureau, with
three subdivisions, as follows:
Division or Bureau of Industrial
Relations. Cd Mediation, cOncilia-
ton. arbitration. etc: O. Industrial
statistics; go Women in industry.
Mediation, Cancellation, Arbitra-
ton, Etc. This subdivision is in
charge of a state mediator and as
sistants. Their duties are to active
ly encourage and assist in the forma-
ton of, in all communities and indus
tries local adjustment boards, indus
trial councils, etc, to meet local con-
ditions, and thus tend to prevent in
dustrial differences from reaching the
acute stage, and also to offer their
own services as mediators in cases of
industrial disputes. In disputes at
fecting public utilities and industries
affecting the general public interest
it is mandatory for them to investi-
gate and make prompt public reports.
Industrial Statistics. This subdi-
vision is in charge of an industrial
statstcian with such assistants. ex-
carry on this branch of the work. 1t
is their duty to gather industrial sta
tistics that may be needed for use by
mediation, Cancellation and adjust
ment boards or by any department
having need of industrial statistics.
They are also required to compile
such reports and statistics to con-
form as far as possible to the plans
and reports of the United States De-
partment of Labor.
Women in Industry. This subdiv.-
sion is in charge of supervisor of
women in industry. She has charge
of the supervision and administra-
ton and enforcement of laws respect
ing women in industry. We have
also proposed that she be the execu-
tive secretary and member of the
body performing the functions of the
industrial welfare commission and re-
move it as far as possible from poll
tics, and at the same time secure a
body that is more specially trained
along the lines of and more familiar
with the problems involved We pro-
pose that the body be composed of
| five members, as follows: Director
of the department of labor and indus
tries, assistant director in charge of
industrial insurance, assistant direct
or in charge of division of safety, in
dustrial statistician, supervisor of
women in industry. The latter also
acting as executive secretary The
personnel of this group would have
all the requisite qualifications to in
diligently handle the problems pre-
scented.
Conclusions.
If our plan is adopted the admins
tration of approximately Is agencies
dealing with labor and industries
will be merged into one department.
The governor makes but one appoint
ment (the director of the department
of labor and industries), instead of
10, but the other appointments are
made by heads that are directly re-
sponsible for their work The oper-
alton of this plan should result in
more coordination and less duplica-
ton of work. and in addition promote
more economy and efficiency.
A proper and intelligent admins
tration of the functions of the pro-
posed division OF industrial relations
ought to insure to our state indus
trial peace. If there is genuine de-
sire on the part Of all parties for in
dustrial peace while securing and
maintaining their economic rights,
we believe that there is no reason
why this machinery. if created by the |
state, should not be able to function
successfully.