River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1919-01-16

dent that in whatever is done, Wiscon-
sin will be glad to do her part.
In my judgment the most difficult
problem of reconstruction is to bring
all prices down to normal basis.
There is an abundance of work in
sight for all for years to come. Public
and private building has been delayed
and railroads require the expenditure
of vast sums of money in betterments
and in the building of new extensions.
However, much of this necessary work
will be delayed until it can be done
for normal prices. In the end it will
be better for all concerned if the re-
duction in the cost of production will
be. brought about by an understanding
between capital and labor than to
have it forced upon us by stagnation
in business and enforced idleness.
The reduction in the cost of produc-
ton must necessarily carry with 1t
corresponding reduction in the cost OF
living, and to meet this situation fair.
ly, which l believe mast be done, the
employers profit, the employees wage,
the cost of food, the cost of distrlbu'
ton and the distributor must each
bear his fair share of the shrinkage
The important object to be accom-
plished is to bring about the necessary
readjustment from a war to peace
basis without friction between labor
and capital. Neither side should be
permitted to take advantage OF the
other and all men should appreciate
that the one thing to avoid at this
time is business paralysis and en-
forced idleness.
These problems should be met in
the same patriotic spirit which
prompted us to aid our government
during the war; We were willing to
make concessions to each other then
and we should do SO now. Speaking IN
general terms the wages which the
laboring man can receive will be con-
trolled by what the product OF his
labor can be sold for on the market
When wage reductions are undertaken
it would be a source of much sat1sfac-
ton to the laboring man and to the
employees generally if they could be
convinced that the rate of pay which
is being offered is all that the en-
ployer can afford to pay, and that he
is exacting merely a reasonable profit
for himself.
| believe it would be helpful during
the period of reconstruction it labor
could be given access to a state board
which might determine, whenever it
is asked to do so, whether the wage
which is being paid is a reasonable
compensation in view of the selling
price of labor's product. feel conf
dent that statement from state au-
thority that the rate of pay offered is
a fair compensation based upon the
value of the product produced would
20 far towards maintaining salts
factory relation between capital and
labor
recommend that you pass an act
creating a commission, to consist of
manufacturers and laborers, which
shall have the power to investigate
any manufacturer or business that en-
ploys labor and determine whether the
wages offered are a reasonable COM
pensation for the services performed,
and whether the rate paid is all that
can reasonably be expected to be paid
under existing business conditions
and the price obtainable for the prod
uct manufactured; also whether the
wages offered are sufficient to guaran-
tee a fair living under the conditions
existing including the price of food.
It is not my thought that this COM
mission shall have the right to fix
wages. It's functions should be to de-
termine what is right and fair between
employer and employee. l believe
when that is established we may safe
ly leave the finer adjustments to them.
The commission which recommend
should have the power to employ the
necessary accountants, the commits
sioners themselves to receive only a
reasonable per diem for services ac-
tually performed and the life of the
commission may be limited to two
years.
Railroads.
What to do with our railroads is
one of the serious problems that con-
OOuSIGSS DIT ILLS Il1llC. LII Jul
own state we need better passenger
service, a more liberal freight service
and lower rates, both passenger and
freight AS understand it many lines
are now being operated with grow
ing deficit under their government
contracts. Under those conditions we
cannot look for any substantial re-
duction in rates or improved and more
costly service unless the government
stands ready to make good further
and larger deficits.
The cost of transportation plays an
important part in the problems of re-
construction If business is going to
be re-established on a paying basis
that will enable the employer to pay
big wages it will be necessary to seek
new markets in order to secure the
volume of trade. The present system
of high rates that are infexible, ex-
cept as they are still further advanced,
do not promise any substantial aid to