Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-01-17
GOV. Philips MESSAGE
TO WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE
Executive Favors State Board Adjustment of Wages
Against Foreign Language Teaching in Graded
SchooIs---AsIxs for Repeal of Primary
and State Insurance Laws

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 a
corresponding reduction in the cost of
living, and to meet this situation fair.
employers profit, the employees wage,
the cost Of food, the cost of distribu.
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 source of much satisfac-
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 reasonable profit
for himself
believe 1t would be helpful during
the period of reconstruction If labor
could be given access to. state board
which might determine, whenever it
is asked to do so, whether the wage
which is being paid is q 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
go far towards maintaining salts
factory relation between capital and
labor.
L 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 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 fair living under the conditions
existing including the price of food.
1t 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. ! believe
when that is established we may safe
" leave the finer adjustments to them.
Railroads.
What to do with our railroads is
one Of the serious problems that con-
fronts Congress at this time. In our
own state we need better passenger
service, 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.
/ believe it to be a general demand
among the people that we put trans
sportation back to somewhere near the
basis that it was before the roads
were taken over by the government.
for war purposes. 1t will be helpful
to our members of Congress if you
will give an expression of sentiment
on this important question and | rec
ommend that you pass a resolution de-
handing lower rates Of transportation,
better service, both freight and passen-
ger, and return of the railroads of.
this country to their owners just as
soon as it is possible to do SO.
Military Training.
The beginning of the war found our
country wholly unprepared. This
statement applies not merely to equip
ment and munitions but to our army
as well Our Regular Army consisted
of only 10000 men, a mere police
force. In addition to the Regular
Army we had about 100000 National
Guardsmen with more or less train
ing.
~~~~~-~~~~~~~~~~~-~~~
CIaSsifvind the Jury