New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-14
LIVING COST A MENACE
President Brown of N. Y. Central
Tells Metal Men.
MEAT BOYCOTT HYSTERIA
Says Road Will Add Nine Millions
to Pay Roll-Herrick
on Waste.

20 ray hOu-herrlCh
on Waste.
W e. Brown. president Of the New
York Central Railroad. told 300 mem
bers Of the National Metal Trades As
sOciation at their dinner at the Hotel
Astor last night. that the problem Of
the cost of living was pointing to an
exceedingly dangerous crisis that soon
would affect not only the manufacturers
of the country but the country itself.
The seriousness of the situation could
hardly be overstated. said Mr.. Brown.
He added that an alarm should be
sounded to all parts of the United
States.
The guests present We're the captains
of 100000 men employed i'm the metal
trades of the country and the custodians
of five hundred million dollars worth
of property. Mr.. Brown told them Of
his negotiations with the employees Of
the New York Central lines. and added
that il was just decided by the men east
of Buffalo to permit of arbitration. The
men west of Buffalo still insisted that
the New York Central consent to- be
governed by the terms obtained by the
Baltimore & Ohio employees
Howard p. Eells. president of the
National Metal Trades Association. pre-
sided. Letters were read from DIT
Charles W. Eliot. DR.. Lyman Abbott
and Cardinal Gibbons. He then intro
duced Mr.. Brown. who explained at
some length how difficult the New York
Central had found the attempt TO settle
it's present labor troubles
However" he said. I'VE are Just
closing negotiations that will result in
an increase in our payroIls of close TO
nine million dollars a year"
Cost Of Living Problem.
II was only a step from that To the
cost of living problem. This is the most
important problem before us to-day
said Mr.. Brown. We have passed
through the unspeakabIe folly of the
meat boycott. Like similar cases of
hysteria on the part Of the populace. il
spread like viIdfre
"On January l. 1910. there were eleven
million meat producing animals less on
the farms Of the country than on Janu-
airy I. 1909. There were 5000. 600 or
100000 more men employed in the
United States the first of the present
year. and the wayfaring man. though a
fool ought To have been able to figure
it out.
Comparing 1909 with 1899. we find
that the acreage devoted TO agricultural
production in the United States in
creased - per cent and that production
increased 36 per cent. But we also find
that population and consumption in
creased in that time 30 per cent.
Take d train running thirty-six miles
an hour-that's production. Then take
another train running sixty miles an
hour-that's consumption. II doesn't
take a railroad man long to see the re-
suit unless you speed IN the Jhirty-six
mile train"
Mr. Brown then said that the United
states made a record i'm 19U9 in one
thing we exported more gold than
i'm any year i'm our history" he said.
One hundred and thirty million dol
lars -S6n.6p0OOo to South America. of
which SIj.OnlONO went to the little re-
public Of Argentina
There were increases in ten wears end
Ing 1900 cf 80 per cent In the prices
paid for wheat. % per cent for corn. and
~; per cent for oats. said Mr.. Brown.
Also. the farmer received in that time
~ per cent more for mis- butter and milk.
There had been an increase in the cost
of labor in that time of an average Of
- per cent. Exports i'm cereals had de-
creased. he said, go per cent
Farm products in the United states
in 1909 Appropriated nine billions of
dollars" ne said This could easily be
doubled without any increase in the
acreage"
Mr.. Brown said the present high prices
were caused by the simple economic fact
that consumption was rapidly overtaking
production.
Mr. Brown subscribed to a sentiment
that was printed on the menu to the
effect that labor unions had done much
for the cause Of labor and were here to
stay. lie said he heartily agreed with
the following statement by representa-
tive OF labor unions
Our aim IL 10 demonstrate that tbs
chief contentious FOR mich ,,e stand
the closed shop the boycott tEe mini
mum y.agc scale. au eight-hOur day.
limitation OF apprentices, opposition to
pieoeW and the premium plan and
similar pront sharing -yste.ns are
against the true Interests both uf the
employer aud the workman
u agree with this" said Mr. BroVn.
and 70 does honor to your president 90
thus publicly make his attitude known 90
he said that ? y CLARK, member ~
the Interstate commerce Commission
and = " Norrisse'. PRECEDENT ~ ths
Eailva, Emplc, Crs and Investors As
Continued en- second page.