Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-26

= limited time. Incssases in wases.
moreover, certainly result In still
further Increasing the costs OF pro-
duetion, and therefore, the cost OF
living. and we should only have to 80
through the same process again. Any
substantial increase cf wages In lead
ing lines Of industry at this time
would utterly crush the general cam
patgn which the government is wlg-
ing, with energy, vigor and substan-
tial, hope Of success to reduce the
high cost Of living. And the increases
In the cost Of transportation which
would necessarily result from In
creases in the wages OF railway am
ployes.would more certainly and more
immediately have that'effect than any
other enhanced wage cost. Only by
keeping the cost Of production on Its
present level. by increasing production,
and by rigid economy and saving on
the part Of the people can we hope
for large decreases in the 5burdensome
cost of living which now weighs us
down.
Determining Taxation >,
1.-THE director-general Of railroads
q ! have felt that q peculiar respon-
stbility rests upon us. because in de-
termining this question we are not
studying the balance sheets Of .corpor-
ations merely, we are in effect deter
mining the burden Of taxation which
must fall upon the people Of the
country in general. We r acting, not
for private corporations, but in the
name Of the government and the pub
lie. and must assess u responsibility
according. For it is neither wise nor
feasible to take are Of increases in
the wages of railroad employees at this
time by increases in freight rates. It
is Impossible at this time. until peace
has come and normal conditions are
restored, to estimate what the. earn
ing capacity Of the railroads will be
when ordinary conditions return.
There is no certain basis, therefore,
fot calculating what the increases Of
freight rates should be and it is nec-
essary, for the time being at any
rate to take care Of all increases IN tho
wages of railway employees through
appropriations fronrthe public treas
ury. X. ..,
Should Postpone Wage Demands
TN such circumstances it seems to
me. and I believe will seem clear to
every thoughtful American, including
the shopmen themselves when they
have taken second thought. and to all
wage of every kind, that we
sort until normal conditions come
again and we have the opportunity for
certain calculation as to the relation
between wages and the cost Of living.
1t is the duty of every citizen of the
country to insist upon a truce in-such
contests until intelligent settlements
can be made. and made by peaceful
and effective common counsel. I APP
peal to my fellow citizens of. every
employment to cooperate in insist
ing upon the maintaining Of such a
truce, and to Cooperate also in sus-
tanning the government in what I con-
cetve to be the only course which o
%sctentious public servants can pursue.
Demands unwisely made and passion
ately insisted upon at this time men
ace the peace and prosperity Of the
thus contribute to bring about the very
results which such demands are in
tended to remedy,
shopmen Should Get -Four Cents
There is, however, one claim made
to be met. They claim that they are
not enjoying the same advantages that
other railway employees are enjoying
because their wages are calculated up
on a different basis. The wages Of
other railway employees are based upon
the rule that they are to receive for
eight hours work the same pay they
A0SSiNSo Lie lol1SeI WOIh~Ody LI1dC
was the usual standard of the pre-war
period. This claim is. l an, told, we'll
founded, and I concur in the conclus-
ion Of the direct-general that the shop
men ought to be given the additional
four cents an hour which the read
justment asked for will justify. There
are certain other adjustments, also,
pointed out in the report Of the direct
~of-general. which ought in fairness
to be made, and which will be made.
L me add, also. that the position
which the government must in con-
science take against general increases
in wage levels while the present ex.
ceptional and temorary circumstances
exist will, of course. not preclude the
Railroad Administration. from giving
prompt and careful consideration to
any claim that may be made by other
classes Of employees for establishments
believe to proper to secure impair
tial treatment for all who work in the
railway service.
w0ODROw WITT .soNn