Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-26

portation which would necessarily
result from increases in the wages
of railway employees would more GER
tainly and more Immediately have
that effect than any other enhanced
wage costs. 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 burdcnsome
cost of living which now weighs us
dCwn.
The Director General of railroads
and ! have felt that a peculiar re-
sponsibility rests upon us, because
in determining this question we are
not studying the balance sheets of
corporations merely. we are in Of
feet determining the burden of tax
alton which must fall upon the peo-
pie of the country in general. We
are acting, not for private corpora
/ ttonS, but in the name of the Gov
ernment and the public, and must
assess our responsibility accordingly.
I For it is neither wise nor feasible to
Z take care of increases in the wages
of railroad employees at this time by
increases in freight rates. il is i'm
, possible 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,
for calculating what the increases
of freight rates should be. and it is
necessary, for the time being at any
rate, to take care of all increa Ses
in the wages of railway employees
through appropriations from the
public treasury.
In such circumstances it seems
clear to me, and | believe will seem
clear to every thoughtful American,
including the shopmen themselves
thought. and to all wage earners of
every kind, that we ought to post
pone questions of this sort until
normal conditions come again and
we have the opportunity for certain
calculation rs to the relation be-
/ tween wages and the cost of living.
| 1t is, the duty of every citizen of the
country to insist upon n truce in
such contests until intelligent settle
ments can be made. and made by
peaceful and effective common
counsel. l appeal to my fellow
citizens of every employment to CO.
operate in insisting upon and main
tanning such Il truce, and to cooper
ate also in sustaining the Govern
ment in what | conceive to be the
only course which conscientious pub
lie servants can pursue. Demands
unwisely made and passionately in
sisted upon at this time menace the
peace and prosperity of the coun-
try as nothing else could, and thus
contribute to bring about the very
results which such demands are in
tended to remedy.
There is, however, one claim
made by the railway shopmen
which ought to be met. This claim
that they are not enjoying the same
advantages that other railway en-
ployes are enjoying because their
wages are calculated upon a differ
ent basis. The wages of other rail-
way 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
prewar period. This claim is, l am
told, well founded; and l concur
in the conclusion of the Director
General that the shopmen ought to
he given the additional four cents an
hour which the readjustment asked
for will justify. There are certain
other adjustments, also, pointed out
in the report of the Director General
which ought in fairness to be made,
and which will be made.
Let me add, also, that the posi-
ton which the Government must in
conscience take against general in
creases in wage levels while the
present exceptional and temporary
circumstances exist will of course not
preclude, the railroad administration
from giving prompt and careful
consideration 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 service.
WOODROW WILSON.
'"The White House,
"26 August. 1919"