The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-03

But by that time II is reasonable to
suppose that present unusual conditions
will have been righted and general &C
tivity In all lines Of trade much i'm
proved. III this suggestion were carried
out IL would, to be sure, be only drop
in the bucket; but Just now every drop
would help.
Then again, perhaps the Public Ser
vice Commission might help by finding
some way TO push ahead at once with
more work on the new subways, en-
ploying larger numbers than now are at
work | am not familiar with details
under which this undertaking is being
carried out, but the possibility exists,
at any rate
Furthermore II might not be a bad
idea for the Public Service Commission
1 to seize the present moment TO seriously
1 inquire why sufficient trains cannot be
run on the existing subways TO accom-
MEDIATE the multitudes Of passengers now
crowded and jammed into trains, and
particularly to operate n much larger
number of local trains, even II each
train consisted of fewer cars than now
Only another drop in the bucket, to be
sure but II Is by just such individual
effort that the situation may, perhaps
be relieved TO an appreciable extent,
Permit me to repeat once more that
what we are now confronted with IL ar
excess Of supply over demand of labor
itself. What happens in the usua
course Of things when any market /!
confronted with an excess of supply owe
demand? one OF two things: the maj
who has capital sufficient TO hold hi
product may do 80 until supply al!
minishes and demand increases; other
wise the price of his product falls II
value.
Here again may be pointed GU
that. considered economically, labor a
a whole is in exactly the same position
OF any other marketable commodity.
am inclined to think, therefore. tina
when the supply OF labor exceeds tn
demand wages may come down.
wages In any particular industry ar
too high to make that industry reason
ably profitable labor cannot be EN-
pioyed II is my belief that II ther
Is wisdom IN the leaders of the laho
movement they may voluntarily offe
"A reduction Of wages now and head O
a larger cut later on"
What do you think OF the minimum
wage law in, prinoIplo?" Mr.. Sulzherge
was asked
Il think Il would be q mistake" he +,
piled. TO enforce such a law, for n
reason that such n law necessitates
hard and fast rule for all industries, an
a law of that kind would be eXtremel
difficult to enforce, | do think, how
ever, that minimum wage agre, moi
IL possible on the part Of all employer
in each industry bearing in mind n
different scale II living expense
various localities whore the industry
conducted,
"A minimum wage that migat
sufficient for a shopgirl in Auburn, 81,
would be too small for a girl workir
in New York city where rents al
other expenses are larger by far. 7
come still closer, what might he a sui
cicnt minimum wage in jamaica pa
of Greater New York--would not
sufficient in the Borough of Manhatta
and for corresponding reason
such an agreement among employe
Of course would have to possess &c
tain amount of feXbility; eNceptio
would have to he made here and the
in the case Of seml-incompetents, W
should be paid wages according to tn
limited earning capacity. But when
come right down to face actual fa'
every thoughtful man must know u
we cannot have n minimum wage Il
which is succ-ssful until the State
self is prepared to care for every pers
who Is unable to earn the minim