The Washington herald., 1922-08-20

require the cooperation of all units
to secure better results In this d.
rection.
The same may be said of the
question Of employment. Also In
respect to efficiency, most
abused word do not think there
Is any industry In the United States
which has fallen lower on the sub
ject of labor efficiency than the
building Industry and I do not be-
lieve that when this organization
together with representatives of the
unions meet such problems face to
face. that they will in the end md
any great difnculty in meeting some
of these problems of labor efficiency.
The difficulty arises today be-
cause of the distrust and suspicion
existing between the different units.
II you met frequently. not merely
for the purpose OF adjusting dis
putes but with a view to discussing
these problems on a broader con-
structive line, there Is little Ques-
tion. in my mind. but what this
whole question of efficiency could
be dealt with. II a plan can be
worked out whereby the employees
will feel assured that they will re-
ceive some, of the extra pay which
flows from extra efficiency and that
such extra effort and extra EN-
cheney means not merely putting
money into the pockets OF the en-
ployer but also means putting some
of the money into the pockets OF
the employees, there should be no
difficulty In securing some ADVANCE
ment in this direction.
Common Counsel.
Industry has accomplished great
achievements in many directions,
but 1t has not yet won Its spurs in
moral human relations. In the fac-
tories there are developing move
ments of a very promising nature
looking for joint cooperation and
common counsel in connection with
matters of mutual interest. The in
trafactories counsel plan. which now
represents nearly a million employees
has produced an amazing result IN
this direction. The construction In
dustry has not the same opportunity
because there are not brought to-
gether daily in the same building
and under the same roof with the
management the same group of
employees, whereby matters could be
dealt with and discussed with day
after day in regard to the duties and
opportunities which are involved in
the industry. but this movement
must work out some method of COM
mon counsel and joint action rela-
tive to many OF the crying needs OF
labor. 1t must have machinery for
contact through representation on
both sides, not only for the purpose
of adjusting the disputes but for the
purpose of working out a broader
constructive problem. The more
intimate you can make that con-
tact, the less necessary Will IL De
to lay down regulations-inelasttc.
inflexible rules which are to apply
under all circumstances-for the
two parties working side by side In
the laying down of proper condi-
tions of employment will be able
TO watch the abuses and thereby
avoid the necessity OF all regula-
tive and restrictive standards.
Arbitration.
II also seems to me that this In
stitution should attempt to erect
some machinery for arbitration. l
believe you should have a commit
tee on arbitration. an official list
Of arbitrators, arbitration forms.
and that men should be encouraged.
whether they be employers or en-
ployes, buyers or sellers. or con-
tractors of any kind. to submit
their difficulty to arbitration IN
order to avoid the cause and delay
Of litigation.
Should not We work toward a
plan whereby all contracts are
made subject to the requirement
that disputes should be arbitrated
in accordance with the arbitration
machinery of the American Con-
struction Council? I believe that
there is a great duty IN that direc-