The Coal Question at the Labor Conference

Geneva, June 27. - The commission of the Labor Conference, formed to study the means of disinfection of wool, hides and skins, in order to combat anthrax, completed its work after numerous sessions.
The committee, by 20 votes to 8 with 1 abstention, rejected a resolution recommending adopting English disinfection processes. In another motion, accepted against the votes of the British and Norwegian governments, the anthrax committee recognized the impossibility of recommending to the Labor Conference the adoption of international measures with a view to combating anthrax by disinfection of objects manipulated.

The Coal Committee, in the report it will present in plenary session to the Labor Conference, will develop interesting objections. They can be summarized as follows: first of all, although the English processes for disinfecting wool have been recognized as effective, they are far too expensive. These processes are still dangerous for the natural quality of wool.

In reality, the anthrax commission came to the conviction that the disease itself must be combated by means of vaccinating the herds. We must also fight against anthrax on man himself. From these two points of view, the experiences of the French government in these matters, exposed by Mr. Boulin, made a great impression on all the members of the commission. Indeed, thanks to the vaccination of herds generally applied by the French process, almost no cases of anthrax are recorded in France.

On the other hand, the serum prepared by the Pasteur Institute in Paris and applied to humans has proven its complete effectiveness. We have hardly observed any more fatal cases in humans in France since Pasteur serum has been used. All that remains today is to extend to the countries of Asia and Africa the means that science now possesses to stem the scourge of anthrax.

In this sense, the applications made by France in Algeria and Morocco, for example, are also completely conclusive.

FOR WORK ACCIDENTS

For its part, the commission which deals with equal treatment of foreign and national workers who are victims of work accidents, adopted this morning, against the vote of Germany, a draft convention in three articles which establishes the principle of this equal treatment. A resolution clarifies certain questions relating to accidents suffered by foreign workers temporarily employed by companies having their head office abroad. Finally, the signatory states of this convention will undertake to adopt legislation in this area, if they do not yet have one, so that there is truly reciprocity.

This afternoon, the Labor Conference continues its examination, in public session, of the annual report of the Director of the International Bureau.