The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-05-19
LABOR NOTES OF
VIDE INTEREST
Some Phases of the Minimum Wage
Question.

Some Phases of the Minimum Wage
Question.
OF course there are two sides to the
minimum wage question. On the the
oretical side the arguments run some
+, thing like this Poverty and vice are
caused by low wages low wages are due
to the lack Of minimum standard
ergo, establish minimum standard and
poverty and vice will disappear. Looks
easy
On the practical side, the proposal to
fix wages by law is open to objection
upon grounds both Of principle and ex-
pediency. Some of these grounds may
be Briefly stated as follows:
l. A minimum wage law would not in
crease wages, except possibly for the
''more efficient" workers. The latter
would be "sweateda and driven to in
crease their earning capacity. The less
skilled, the old. the yomg-in short,
those most in need of help-wouid BE-
thrown out of employment.
2. A minimum wage law, by adding
a hardship to those least able to bear
1.-THE so.caled parasitic class-w would
greatly increase the need of charity. IL
would substitute for class earning low
wages class earning no wages.
g. A minimum wage law would fix
wages upon an arbitrary basis and at
a figure lower than that established by
organized labor in the same or similar
industries. thus tending to reduce wages
and making it more difficult to increase
them.
a. A minimum wage law would in
reality establish a maximum wage. Ex-
perienee shows that employers seldom
pay more than the minimum rate fixed
by their employees.
:. A minimum wage law could not be
except % by organization on
the part Of the workers or ~ by drastic
penalties By organization the workers
ran fix their own wages without legis
lation Effective penalties are in them
selves impractical.
O. A minimdm wage law, by encourag- |
ng the workers to look wholly to the
legislature FOR improvement in their con !
litions. would discourage the organiza !
ton of labor. The failure to enforce /
such legislation would leave the workers /
Entirely at the mercy of the employ
RS.
8. A minimum wage law would be
used as precedent for the enactment OF
,ther laws which. under the pretense of
public interest" and in return for ia
'ors received at the hands Of the state.
would impose reciprocal obligations upon
abor. hamperng the freedom of action
hat is essential to progress.
s. A minimum wage law. by fixing
= IL ,,ait. 10 1al
he status of commodity, in other
Fords. chattel.
.. A minimum wage law would be an
xtension of the legislative authority
nto the sphere of economic law, pre-
isely as would an attempt TO fix the
rice of merchandise. II would. there
ore. be contrary. not only TO the spirit
I American political institutions. but
lso to uniform experience in all sim
ar attempts.
We can only repeat that there is no
between the act of union
nd the act Of legislature in the case
nder discussion. In the former case,
he workers fix their own wages; in
ie latter case the workers wages are
xed for them BY other persona. As
tween the two cases. there is all the
ference between freedom and compul-
on. between labor as an attribute OF
fe and labor as a commodity of com
cree. between the laborer as free
rent. owing himself. and a. a ward
the state" In short. reference to
e action Of the unions in fixing mini
um wages proves rather than disproves
e objection 70 minimum legislation.
One thing worse than gutter Is TIE !
ap who j. afraid to begin. q
Senator Carroll :. Page voted against :
2 amendment 70 the suniry eivil bill.
lich had for it, purpose the eyemp =
m Of labor and farmers unions under
e provisions Of the antitrust law. Z