New-York tribune., 1919-07-14
Favors Resolule Use of
Graduated Income Levy
To Meet Debts in Lieu
of Luxury Assessments
Seeks To Aid Workers
Wages, Reckoned i'm Power
TO Purchase, Decreasing
Steadily, 1t Is Declared

In a statement yesterday outlining
the Protestant Church attitude toward
economic and postwar reconstruction
problems the Federal Council of the
Churches of Christ in America declares
that the Church opposes the effort Of
organized influences to shift the bur
den Of war debt to the shoulders of the
general public; that it favors a reso-
Lutte use OF graduated income and in
heritance taxes in lieu of the luxury
taxes, against which it secs revolt
now arising, and that the state should
attempt TO secure to the worker an
income sufficient to maintain his fam
lily ct standard Of living which the
community can approve"
The council, which represents thirty
leading Christian bodies, further as
serts the idea is false that the churches
are concerned only with religion, edu
cational and charitable enterprises.
"Thcy are or should be vitality con-
cerned with civic, economic and social
interests,' it declares.
Rights of workingmen to share in
the control of industries are set forth
in the statement at length.
People Not Submissive
Owe have come upon times when
people are not submissive to injustice
or to unnecessary privation and suf-
fering," declares the Church commits
sion. "They arc deeply and justly in
earnest. If those who are the actual
industrial, political and social leaders
of the nation Will not act upon the
principle that the greatest shall be the
servant of all, then the people them
selves, with Indignation and bitterness,
are sure to take their destiny and that
of the world into their own hands.
"Class consciousness and the use Of
violence are not confined to the revolu-
tonary groups. The possession of
wealth and education tend to the for
nation of classes, and industrial own
ership and management to a class con-
scious ruling group. We observe the
dangerous tendency of many state and
municipal officials to deny fair hear
ings to radical offenders and to use un-
necessary and provocative brutality
during strikes.
'Legislatures, judges and officials
bluster and unnecessary violence.
Workingmen believe that they do not
get an equal chance before the law,
and it is highly important that what
ever real basis there is for this con-
viction should be removed.
Deep Cause Of Unrest
"a deep cause of unrest in industry
is the denial to labor Of a share in
industrial management. Laborers must
be recognized as being entitled to as
much consideration as employers. and
their rights must be equally safe
guarded. This may be accomplished by
assuring the workers as rapidly as it
can be done with due consideration to
conditions fair share in control; by
opportunity for ownership, with CORE
spending representation, or by a COM
bination of ownership and control in
cooperative production.
"The living wage should be made the
first charge upon industry before divi
dends are considered. The resistance
of labor to general wage reductions.
even when accompanied by reduced
hours Of work, should receive moral
support from the community. except
where the demand is clearly unreason-
able. Wage levels must be high enough
10 maintain standard of living
worthy OF responsible free citizenship
IN a democracy.
Actual Wages Decreasing
"Actual wages-that is, wages reck-
oned in power to purchase comm odities
have been decreasing for several
years in spite of wage increases. There
is urgent need of provision by in
dustry under the guidance of the gov
ernment for some regular method Of
adjustment of wages and salaries tc
the purchasing power of money High
wages are desirable as a general prin-
ciple." Employers who justify low
wages or wage reductions should oper
their books and submit their figures tt
public scrutiny, adds the commission.
To provide employment the commits
sion advocates that a nationwide en-
ployment service be maintained, ant
suggests adoption of policy of puhli,
works and land settlement, guarded
extension of opportunities for socia
insurance to cover unemployment due
to industrial conditions or i'll health
and the rehabilitation of industria
cripples under the direction of The
state and at the expense of industry
A general policy of vocational training
is approved.
The council asserts the churche.
stand for a living wage for industrial
women and equal pay for equal work
1t urges persons having free capital t.
invest it in homes for workers. I
points to the need of community cen