The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-08-26

The director general OF rail-
roads and have felt that a
peculiar responsibility rests
upon us because in determining
this question we are now not
studying the balance sheets or
corporations merely. we are in
effect determining the burden
Of taxation which must fall
upon the people of the country
in general We are acting, not
for private corporations. but in
the name of the government
and the public and must assess
our responsibility accordingly.
For 1t Is neither wise nor feas-
ible to take care Of increases
in freight rates. 1t is impos-
sible at this time until peace
has come and normal condi-
tons are restored, to estimate
what the earning capacity OF
the railroads will be when ordi-
nary conditions return. There
is no certain basis, therefore,
for calculating wnat the in
creases Of freight ,.a-es sh,Julc
be, and it is necessary. for the
time being, at any rate, to take
care of all increases In the
wages of railway employees
through appropriations from
the public treasury.
In such circumstances, It
seems clear to me. and be-
ieve will seem clear to every
thoughtful American, including
the shopmen themselves. when
they have taken second
thought, and to all wage-earn-
ers Of every kind, that we
ought to postpone questions OF
this sort until normal condi-
tions come again ana we have
the opportunity ror certain cal
culation as to the relation be-
tween wages and the cost of
living. It Is the duty of every
citizen Of the country to insist
upon q truce in such contests
until intelligent settlements
can be made, and made by
peaceful and effective common
counsel.
I appeal to my fellow-citizens
Of every employment to CO.
operate in insisting upon and
maintaining such a truce, and
to cooperate also in sustaining
the government In what I con.
ceive to be the only course
which conscientious public
servants can pursue. Demands
unwisely made ana passionate
ly insisted upon at this time,
menace the peace and pros
perity of the country as moth
ing else could, and thus con.
tribute to bring about the very
results which such demands
are intended to remedy.
There is. however, one claim
made by the railway shopmen
which ought to be met. They
claim that they are not enjoy
ing the same advantages that
other railway employees are en-
joying. because their wages
are calculated upon. 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 received
for the longer work day that
was the usual standard Of the
pre-war period. This claim IS,
/ am told, well founded; and /
concur In the conclusion Of
the director general that the
shopmen ought to be given the
additional cents an hour
which the REIMBURSEMENT asked
for will justify. There are GER
tain other adjustments, also,
pointed out in the report Of
the director general. which
ought In fairness 70 be made,
and which will be made.
Let me add, arso, that the
position which tho government
must in conscience take
against general increases in
wage levels while the present
exceptional and temporary CIR
cumstances exist will, of
course. not preclude the rail-
road administration from CIV
ing prompt and carerur con-
sideration to any claims that
may be made by other classes
of employees for readjustments
believed to be proper to secure
impartial treatment for all
who work in the railway serv-