Denver labor bulletin., 1916-12-16

or majority thereof, find that even in
these record times OF prosperity the
daily papers of Denver were unable to
meet this small wage increase.
Fearful for Publishers.
Further than that the commission in
Inmates that mailers cannot be classed
as skilled workmen, therefore are pre-
sumably not justified in asking for in
creased wages. While the commission
recognizes that there has been a vast
increase in the cost of living, McLaugh-
lin and Lannon are fearful that a ten
per cent additional wage TO twenty men
in the mailing departments of the three
daily papers involved would work a
great financial hardship upon the pub
fishers.
The opinion gives considerable em-
phasis to the increased cost of print pa
per and printing material, but shows lit
tie consideration for the human part
required in the production of newspa-
pers. For instance, the majority opin-
ion says, This question OF the abnor-
nal increase in the price of print paper
presents a very serious situation for the
newspapers and publishers The increase
to the Denver newspapers is from IS to
rs per cent in cost. and as the cost of
print paper represents 40 per cent OF
the total cost of the production of any
newspaper, it is obvious that any mate
rial increase in the price of print paper
represents 4 serious hardship to the
newspaper"
Wage Increase Impossible.
Then the majority opinion opines at
considerable length upon the European
war and its effect upon the price of
wood pulp, chemicals, inks, etc 1t is
unnecessary, of course, to say that the
manufacturers OF these products never
asked the Colorado industrial commits
sion, or any other commission, for the
privilege of increasing their prices. The
report concludes: "It has been repre-
sented, and We think successfully, that
this increase meaning printing material
and paper together with other costs,
makes the increase demanded in wages
impossible
So far as the Colorado industrial com
mission is concerned it is very evident
that any employe of a daily newspaper
in this state, particularly of = paper
with political influence, has little hope
of ever securing an increase of wages so
long as it can be determined BY COM
mission.
Commissioner Williams Disagrees.
the mailers as to the unsanitary condi.
tions in the three offices. the commits
sion says: I'VE find the quarters IN
both newspapers fairly adequate to the
conditions
In his minority memorandum, or opin-
ion, Commissioner Williams disagrees
with Commissioners Mclaughlin and
Lannon in their findings to the extent
that it was shown that the Post could
well afford TO meet the increase and n
favorable award should have been made
in that instance, whereas the showing
made by the Times and News was not 50
favorable.
In support of this contention, Com
missioner Williams says: IF, in a given
city, there are nine employers in he
same line of business, eight could paw
the increase and one could not, would
it be said that there could be no recon-
mendation of an increase because the
Recommendation could not be uniform
for all of the nine plants engaged in
the businessf' Further, Commissioner
Williams holds that one employer whose
business was not successful might set
the scale of wages for q half score of
other employers who were finan,rally
able to pay the higher scale.
Did Not Call for Books.
While the industrial law authorizes
and empowers the commission to inves-
tigste the books of any employer who
says that his business does not Justify
wage increase, it is hardly necessary
to state that the Colorado industrial
commission did not apply this law or
call for the books of the Post, News or
Times.
At a special meeting of the Mailers
Union held Tuesday night there was
much disappointment manifested over
the opinion rendered by the commission
The matter was at once taken up with
the International officers of the union
and the local members are now awaiting
advice from that quarter.