Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 146, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1917 — WAR PLANTS ARE REGULATED [ARTICLE]

WAR PLANTS ARE REGULATED

There Has Been Very Little Direct Management of Business by Great Britain and France, However. Contrary to the common understanding In the United States there has been very little direct management of business by the governments of Great Britain and France in those countries since the war began, according to a report on “the relation of the government to war industry,” made to the National Civic federation by Prof. Jeremiah W. Jenks. There has been, however, Professor Jenks explains, a “rather strict regulation of Industries producing or handling war supplies, but virtually no direct management of business outside the regular government arsenals and certain special factories, few in number, built by or for the British government. The power given the British government under the defense of the realm act is outlined in the report as follows: “To require any work in any factory or workshop to be done in accordance with the directions of the government. “To regulate or restrict the carrying on of work in any factory or workshop or to remove the plant. “To take possession of any unoccupied premises for war purposes. “In actual practice, the government gets its work done: “By paying liberal prices to establishments for all work done while guarding against monopolistic or other extortionate prices. “By restricting or forbidding the making of certain classes of goods not needed for war purposes. “By prescribing rigidly the order in which the various classes of work are to be finished and delivered. “By regulating through various restrictions the distribution of the supply of labor and the conditions under which work shall be done. “While the government does not directly manage establishments,” Professor Jenks says, “it does tell what to do, determine the order of work, control transport of goods and materials in proper order, forbid workmen who are needed for production of munitions to enlist and forbid trade except under license. “These, regulations,” he says, “are enforced by a committee of subordinates acting in a friendly way by unanimous agreement. Their, decisions are on disputed questions laid before them, and are subject to an appeal to their superior officers. Their classifications may be put into effect by employers or contractors subject likewise to ah appeal. Disputes of all kinds regarding prices, wages and conditions of labor are settled by committees representing all parties.”