Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1923-09-10
CODE To
END DISPUTES
Coal Commission in Report to
President Today Makes
Recommendations
NECESSITY OF COAL
National Interest in Industrial
Controversies of Most
Importance
NECESSITY OF COAL

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10.-Com-
pairing the controversy in the coal
situation to that over slavery just
prior to the Civil war, the United
States coal commission declared in
a report submitted to President Cool
idge today that the national interest
required establishment of a fixed
code for settlement of this and other
industrial disputes.
Regardless of the inherent rights
possessed by both sides, the COM
mission held the necessity of coal to
the general public makes it incum-
bent upon both operators and work
ers ito make some personal sacri-
ilces in the interest of the com
mon veal"
1.-THE condition resembles the con-
flict between the definition in the
Declaration of Independence con-
cerning human rights, and the then
clearly constitutional right of hu-
man slavery the report said. "The
great mass of those arrayed upon
either side were unwilling to COM
promise or adjust. 1t was permit
ted to go until the agony of a fra
ternal war solved the problem. II
is to be hoped that we have learned
wisdom by experience"
The outbreak at Herrin, Ill,
June, 1922, and the more recent dis
turbance in the West Virginia
fields were cited as indicative of the
serious aspect the general situation
has taken. The Commission review
ed the history of both cases in de-
! tail, but declined to fix responsible Is
| ity further than to say the serious
| results might be attributed to the in
Il. !, fdI, Qh hnpn l.
ually fostered among the members
of the two opposing camps, and to
the attitude of the communities in
volved toward law and order
While public officials at Herrin
undoubtedly were lax in performing
their duty, the report said, there
was no evidence that the United
Mine Workers foresaw the fatal con-
sequences of the conflict between the
union and operator at that place.
"If industrial peace is to be hoped
for" the commission said, then
some method must be found to
guarantee, as near as fallible human
judgment may, equally exact justice
to capital, to labor and to the pun
lie. There must be one yardstlcR
adopted by which all controverteo
questions are to be measured. PUP
lie interest demands that certain n1-
ed principles shall be recognized py
bot1 capital and labor as this yard
stick"
Declaring it would be better for
the participants themselves to work
out the exact terms of the code, the
commission set forth as the frame-
work. the following principles:
/. No contract is of any valid
binding force in America which has
not been freely and voluntarily en-
tered into.
.. The right of a man to work
when, where and fol whom and un-
der what conditions and at what
wage he chooses, so long as he elecrs
to assert his individual right, must
never be interfereG with and the
state must furnish him protection
and peace while he exercises tnls
hight
8. In a free government men have
q right to combine themselves 20
gether into organizations for collec-
tive bargaining with reference to
terms and conditions under which
they will work; they must exercise
this right without force and intiln1-
dat.on. and must not interfere with
the right of the man who chooses
to dispose of his time individually.
/. Society has a right to fix a
limitation beyond which it will not
per.l.i, either these ie facto or de
lure Crga nizat!ens &C go.
3. There is an Implied duty III on
corpurations 10 pay the hnmblest
of its employees who is able-bodied,
willing and competent, and who
gives an honest days work, sufficient
wage to enable that person and his
family to live in accordance with
the standards of American life, and
to pay in addition thereto for skill
and experience
6. The general public has a right
to demand of its government that 1t
shall not freeze in the midst of an
abundance of coal. Unless capital
and labor adopt methods that will
furnish the public coal when needed,
IAN outraged public sentiment viii
furnish the supply by either the
army or the penitentiary.
Z. When contracts have been vol
UNFAIRLY entered into, ''the industry
itself should provide boards of ar
bitration, both local and appellate,
10 speedily dispose of causes in ac-
cordance with the terms of the con-
tract and the principles herein set
out"
frSo,tin,,ad IN PaOe ~