The Washington herald., 1918-08-01
TNCREASEP
OF CAR men IN
25. SYSTEMS
War Labor Board Members
Grant Raises in All Cases
Appealed.

The War Labor Board has granted
wage increases in each Of the twenty
fiys street car cases before It. In
volying Chicago; Newark. N. j.;
Albany, N. Y; Cleveland. Ohio; De-
troit, Mich. and smaller cities from
the Atlantic to the Pacific. ,,-
The exact amount Of the increases
in each city will be announced today.
The preliminary announcement yes
terday made II clear that there would
be no general minimum wage fixed
for the entire country. The minimum
wage question and the street car
ca ses were considered together by the
ioint chairmen of the board, w. II.
Taft and Frank p. Walsh.
Decide Each Case.
"The determination and application
of a fair living wage will be decided
in each case on the basis OF the par
ticular facts ascertained," the board
announced. II will take conditions
surrounding the cost of living In each
community and the peculiar conditions
surrounding the trade involved as a
basis for each decision.
There are now 22s cases pending on
the boards docket. Affecting at least
!. 200. 900 men. Most OF these cases. the
board feels, should have been settled
without the expense OF the appeal.
II made no formal statement on
these, except to score the profiteering
ca pitalist who refuses to accept the
statement OF principles of the board
as the basis OF relation with labor
during war times. and equally the Ia
bor organizations which makes these
times an occasion for unreasonable
demands.
The following resolution, drawn by
w. II. Taft, was submitted jointly by
him and Frank Walsh to the fun
board:
Resolved: That the War Labor
Board deems II an appropriate time
to invite the attention of employers
and workers alike to the wisdom OF
composing their differences according
to the principles governing the Ma
tional War Labor Board. which were
approved and promulgated by the
President in his proclamation Oh
| April 8. 1918.
War Of workshops.
THAT this war is not only a war
of arms, but also a war of work
shops, a competition in the quanti-
tative production and distribution Of
munitions and war supplies-a con-
test in industrial resource and en-
ergy.
THAT the period OF the war is not
normal period of industrial expan-
sion from which the employer should
| expect unusual profits or the en-
ployes abnormal wages; that II is
an interregnum in which industry Is
pursued only for common cause and
common ends.
That capital should only have such
reasonable returns as will assure its
| use for the worlds and nations
cause. while the physical wellbeing
OF labor and its physical and mental
effectiveness in a comfort reasonable
in view of the exigencies of the war,
| should likewise be assured.
That the. board should be careful
| In its .censfusions and not make or
| ders In this interregnum based on
approved views of progress in nor
NAL times. which. under war condi-
| tions, might seriously impair the
present economic structure OF our
country.
That the declaration Of our prin-
ciples as to the living wage and an
| established. minimum should be con-
strued in the light of these consid-
| erations.
Defer General Ruling.
That for the present the board or
its sections should consider and de-
| eide each case involving these prin-
| ciples on its particular facts and
reserve any general rule of decision
| until its judgments have been suffi-
| ciently numerous, and their opera
tion sufficiently clear, to make gen.
eralization safe.
The board feels that IL employers
would consider its principles for O
| living wage, eight-hour day. equal
pay for equal work, a right to or
ganize, and collective bargaining.
/ when they are in dispute with labor.
they would settle many OF their dif-
ferences at once, and in the same
way that the board must ultimately
| give the decision after a long and
\ expensive appeal"