New-York tribune., 1918-03-18

' mueh more effective control. The ex-
usss . pioAt duty RECEIVERS for the com
m.~'i'y' IN more important cases, 80
h',.;, bvi cen OF the profits OF trades and
businesses IN excess of their prc-war
estimate OF profit. Except in the case
oI smail or moderate sized incomes
oHe-toUrth of the remaining 20 ner
cent OF these excess profits IS taken
~ income tex and a further proportion
N supertaN. Moreover. the profits Of
ituAitIon manufacturers, coal owners
nl.lp owners and many grades of food
hnoDucG'S are now restricted We
nave obtained from the various de-
p9ttihentS concerned summary of the
measures they have taken in mis- a.
fect'on, and we publ sh it as Appen-
AK a. l oi TINS report. The question of
the adequacy of the steps taken to re-
SIle, 'he profits on contracts has en-
eaged and will continue to engage. the
attention OF the committee.
increases Of wages have in some
eases oe3n secured by labor apart from
%H! o. the cost Of living. through ad-
vantage being taken OF the SHORTAGE Of
rs supply in relation to the demand S.r,a u
however legitimate this NAV be in tim
ol peace, II should be remembered thae
III existing circumstances il IS direc-
c@uSe OF further rise in prices: and o.
oF1heF ING cases in national cvpenai-
~ ~ the same time it Is essential
-iia'' ii labor is asked TO forego he
i.,oVan'ages Of its economic position
rom motives Of patriotism. the same
20 capital.
II IS the case that increases of wages
n one trade or grad have been nsed
as reason for further increases in
oshers' ON the ground Of similarity.
and apaft o the question Of the cost
O. :, IVlAg. Il therto there has been no
cHect-ye check on this competition.
Several different authorities have heen
oeaiihs With wage questions in differ
en- lhuUStles independent Y Of ono
s.ho'nef' although il has been obvious
nat the course taken b. any one Of
them must tend to be used as n nrec-
ecent Tor the rest. We find indeed
tRa there IS frequently want Of proper
cooperation between government de-
paftments in dealing with labor. which
sometimes passes into active competi-
A fresh cycle of wage advances sue
ceeds one another. Each one results
IN further increases of prices or in
preventing q reduction of prices. An
advance. temporary relief from the in
crease IN the cost Of living. but only.
rs rue, at the expense Of all other
5Nades. And the gain is shortlived.
or 1t results from the others for sim
lar advances, which raise the cost Of
al commodities they produce. The
o0uceNs are raising prices against
,pehselves as consumers. Meantime
the cost OF war is vastly increased
" e are deeply impressed by the seri-
business OF the position in this respect.
and are convinced that If the process
continues. the result can hardly fail to
he disastrous to all classes OF the ma
ton
Our recommendations in respect Of
those aspects Of the question Of prices
which ? re dealt with in this report are
as follows:
l. Whatever measures arc possible
should We taken by the government 10
avoid the creation Of new credits in
financing the war
. An ihGuirv should be set on
foot to ascertain what has been the
actual increase in the cost &c living
to the working classes and how far
1t has been counterbalarced by ad-
vances a0art from wage advances due
to war conditions
3. The measures FOR the limitation
Of profits should be continued and
stronger and should be made more
widely known to the people
I. The strongest case should be
required to be established before any
advance il wages IS conceded on any
grounds other than the rise in the
cost If living. Nor should it be re-
garded as q rule-and we have no
reason 10 think tAat labor IN general
would wish that it should-that wage
earners in receipt Of not Inadequate
rsE before the war should be OK
enpted from the share in the eco
nomic sacrifices involved by state
Of war.
;. A single policy under the general
direction Of one authority should be
adopted IN all Industries in the de-
termination Of wage questions.