Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-10-21
.IDLENESS Relief
CONFERENCE.-The
Labor and Capital Agree on
Final Findings Of the
Washington Body.
EMERGENCY WORK GOES on
Manufacturers Committee Majority
for Eight-Hour Law Repeal, Mi.
nority for Highest Wages--Gom.
pers Files Minority Report,

Washlngton.-The National Confer.
ence Of Unemployment after creating
q standing committee with authority
to reconvene the full conference at any
time, concluded its deliberations and
adjourned sine die. .....-..
Divergent views as TO needed eco
homie readjustments for relief Of un-
employment were presented to the con-
ference by its manufacturers commit
tee. The majority members through
James a. Campbell Of Youngstown, o.,
committee chairman, recommended
several sweeping measures, including
repeal of the Adamson eight-hour rail
road law and dcnpnciation Of any
group seeking in its own interests so
resist economic adjustment" Minority
members, through Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Federation
Of Labor, in another report, strongly
emphasized that there must be adopt.
ed no policy Of wage reduction"
The two reports were among mum.
Der from various subcommittee con-
sldered by the conference at what was
expected to be its final session. Con.
ference officials explained that the re-
ports were not to be taken as rer0m-
mendations Of the conference, but as
expression Of opinion by various
groups.
The majority manufacturers com
mittee report was signed by Chairman
Campbell, William NJ. Butler of Bos-
ton, II. L. Edgerton of Nashville, A. L.
Humphrey of Pittsburgh, Thomas z.
Human Of Pelham, Ga; W. II. Stack.
house Of Springfield, O., and John A.
Penton of Cleveland. Ii recommended:
Prompt enactment Of legislation
pending in Congress for funding the
obligations incurred by the railroads
during federal control; expedition of
payment of government obligations to
the railroads growing out of rental OBJ
legations; transfer Of the functions
now performed by the Railroad Labor
Board to the Interstate Commerce
Commission; repeal of the Adamson
eight-hour law; prompt enactment by
Congress of law free from ambiguity
providing for a substantial downward
revision of taxes; prompt enactment
of a satisfactory tariff bill embracing
such rates Of duty as may properly
safeguard the prosperity Of employer
and employee, and that every element
in our citizenship should frankly set
Its face against group, whether in
agriculture, business, labor or trans
portation that selflshly undertakes TO
resist necessary economic adjustment
In any narrow endeavor at the expense
of the permanent bettermcnt of our
national life"
The minority report filed by NJ
Gompers, Mrs. Sara A. Conboy of New
York secretary of the United Textile
Workers of America, and Roy Dickln-
son Of East Orange, n. j., associate
editor of Printers Ink, categorically
dissented from the conclusions and the
decision Of the majority members OF
the committee. 1t said in part:
"There must be adopted no policy of
wage reduction. On the contrary, there
must be a policy calling for the high.
est possible rate Of wages in every in
dustry. In terms Of industrial we'll
being this means the adoption Of a
policy placing in the hands Of all of
the people the highest average Of buy
ing power in order that there may be
the greatest possible consumption OF
commodities and the greatest conse-
quent demand for the production Of
commodities. Reduction Of buying
power stops purchasing, which, in turn,
inevitably stops manufacturing and
creates unemployment"
The minority members also recon-
mended adoption of business stand
ards which eliminate profteering, place
commodities upon the market at the
lowest possible cost per unit and en-
able manufacturers to base unit costs
upon 100 per cent utilization Of the
productive capacity of plants"