Conference Board whose duty it shall be to adjust labor disputes in the manner specified, and in accordance with certain conditions set forth in the said report; and

Whereas, the Secretary of Labor has, in accordance with the recommendation contained in the report of said War Labor Conference Board dated March 29, 1918, appointed as members of the National War Labor Board, Hon. William Howard Taft and Hon. Frank P. Walsh, representatives of the general public of the United States; Messrs. Loyall Z. Osborne, L. F. Loree, W. H. Van Dervoort, C. E. Michael, and B. L. Worden, representatives of the employers of the United States; and Messrs. Frank J. Hayes, William L. Hutcheson, William H. Johnston, Victor A. Olander, and T. A. Rickert, representatives of the employees of the United States:

Now, therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, do hereby approve and affirm the said appointments and make due proclamation thereof and of the following for the information and guidance of all concerned:

The powers, functions, and duties of the National War Labor Board shall be: To settle by mediation and conciliation controversies arising between employers and workers in fields of production necessary for the effective conduct of the war, or in other fields of national activity, delays and obstructions which might, in the opinion of the National Board, affect detrimentally such production; to provide, by direct appointment or otherwise, for committees or boards to sit in various parts of the country where controversies arise and secure settlement by local mediation and conciliation; and to summon the parties to controversies for hearing and action by the National Board in event of failure to secure settlement by mediation and conciliation.

The principles to be observed and the methods to be followed by the National Board in exercising such powers and functions and performing such duties shall be those specified in the said report of the War Labor Conference Board dated March 29, 1918, a complete copy of which is hereunto appended.

The national board shall refuse to take cognizance of a controversy between employer and workers in any field of industrial or other activity where there is by agreement or Federal law a means of settlement which has not been invoked.

And I do hereby urge upon all employers and employees within the United States the necessity of utilizing the means and methods thus provided for the adjustment of all industrial disputes, and request that during the pendency of mediation or arbitration through the said means and methods there shall be no discontinuance of industrial operations which would result in curtailment of the production of war necessities...

PRIORITIES LIST FOR SUPPLY OF FUEL, APRIL 10, 1918. The War Industries Board of the Council of National Defense issued the following statement:

The Priorities Board has adopted Preference List No. 1 for the guidance of all governmental agencies in the supply and in the distribution by rail or water of coal and coke. While the list speaks for itself, it is proper to say that the board has not undertaken to classify any industry as nonessential or at this time to limit the quantity of fuel which any particular industry or plant shall receive. The board has, however, listed certain industries whose operation is of exceptional importance, measured by the extent of their direct or indirect contribution either toward winning the war or toward promoting the national welfare, and these industries will be accorded preferential treatment by the Fuel Administration in the distribution of coal and coke, and

also in the transportation of such coal and coke by the railroads.

This same plan will be followed in according preferential treatment to war industries and plants in the transportation of raw materials and supplies required by them in their manufacturing operations, so that they may not be delayed or hampered in complying with priority orders issued against them governing their products.

Preference List No. 1 is not complete in itself, but it will be noted that provision is made for certifying additional classes of industries, and also individual plants whose operations are necessary as a war measure.

In determining what industries or plants are entitled to be certified, two factors will control: (1) The relative urgency of the uses or purposes for which the product of the plant is utilized; and (2) the per cent. of the product of the plant utilized in war work, direct or indirect, or work of exceptional or national importance. No plant, a very substantial per cent. of whose product is not of exceptional importance, can be accorded preferential treatment.

PRIORITIES BOARD PREFERENCE LIST NO. 1.

In pursuance of a resolution unanimously adopted by the Priorities Board at a meeting held April 6, 1918, the following preference list of classes of industries, whose operation as a war measure is of exceptional importance, is promulgated and published for the guidance of all agencies of the United States Government in the supply and distribution of coal and coke, and in the supply of transportation by rail and water for the movement of coal and coke to said industries.

The priorities commissioner shall, under the direction of and with the approval of the Priorities Board, certify additional classes of industries, and also certify individual plants whose operation as a war measure is of exceptional importance, which industries and plants when so certified shall be automatically included in this Preference List, which shall be amended or revised from time to time by action of the Priorities Board to meet changing conditions.

No distinction is made between any of the industries or plants which are or may be included in this Preference List, and no significance should attach to the order in which the industries or plants appear in the list.

Aircraft.-Plants engaged exclusively in manufacturing aircraft or supplies and equipment therefor.

Ammunition.-Plants engaged in the manufacture of ammunition for the United States Government and the allies.

Army and Navy cantonments and camps.

Arms (small).—Plants engaged in manufacturing small arms for United States Government and for the allies. Chemicals.-Plants engaged exclusively in manufacturing

chemicals.

Coke plants.

Domestic consumers.

Electrical equipment.-Plants manufacturing same.
Electrodes.-Plants producing electrodes.
Explosives.-Plants manufacturing explosives.

Farm implements.-Manufacturers exclusively of agricultural implements and farm-operating equipment. Feed.-Plants producing feed.

Ferroalloys.-Plants producing.

Fertilizers.-Manufacturers of fertilizers.

Fire brick.-Plants producing exclusively.

Food.-Plants manufacturing, milling, preparing, refining, preserving, and wholesaling food for human consumption.

Food containers.-Manufacturers of tin and glass con

Railways.

Railways.-Plants manufacturing locomotives, freight cars, and rails, and other plants engaged exclusively in manufacture of railway supplies.

Refrigeration.-Refrigeration for food and exclusive iceproducing plants.

Seeds. Producers or wholesalers of seeds (except flower seeds.)

Ships (bunker coal).—Not including pleasure craft. Ships. Plants engaged exclusively in building ships (not including pleasure craft) or in manufacturing exclusively supplies and equipment therefor.

Soap.-Manufacturers of soap.

Steel.-Steel plants and rolling mills.

Tanners.-Tanning plants, save for patent leather. Tanning extracts -Plants manufacturing tanning extracts.

Tin plate.-Manufacturers of tin plate.

Twine (binder) and rope.-Plants producing exclusively binder twine and rope.

Wire rope and rope wire.-Manufacturers of same.

EDWIN B. PARKER,

Chairman, Priorities Board.