Evening journal., 1919-08-26

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shopmen, therefore. and all similar
demands are in effect this: that we
make increases IN wages, which are
likely 70 be permanent, In order to
meet a temporary situation which
will last nobody can certainly tell
how long, but in all probability only
for a limited time.
Increases In wages will, more
over, certainly result IN still fur
ther increasing the costs OF pro-
duction. and therefore the cost OF
living. and we should only have to
go through the some process again.
Any substantial increase OF wages
in leading lines OF Industry at this
time would utterly crush the gen
eral campaign which the Govern
ment is waging with energy, vlgor
and substantial hope OF success TO
reduce the high cost OF living. And
the increases in the cost OF trans
pOrtaiiOn which would necessarily
result from increases in the wages
OF railway employees would more
certainly and more Immediately
have that effect than any other en-
HANGED wage costs. only by keep
ing the cost OF production on its
present level. by Increasing produc-
tion and by rigid economy and saw
ing on the part OF The people can
we hope for large decreases in the
burdensome cost OF living which
now weighs us down.
The Director-General OF Rail-
roads and ! have felt that a pecu-
liar responsibility rests upon us
because in determining this ques-
tion we are not studying the bal
ance sheets Of corporations merely;
we are in effect determining the
burden OF taxation which must fan
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 respon-
sibility accordingly. for 10 is neither
wise nor feasible TO take care OF in
creases in the wages OF railroad
employees at this time by Increases
IN freight rates.
II IS impossible at this time, until
peace has come and normal condi-
tions are restored. 10 estimate what
the earning capacity Of the rail-
roads will be when ordinary cOndi-
tiOns return. There is no certain
basis therefore for calculating what
increases Of freight rates should be,
and 70 is necessary for the time be-
ing at any rate TO take care Of all
increases in the wages Of railway
employees through appropriations
from the public treasury.
ives OF the shopmen, President Wilso
pie OF the cruel burden Of high
prices. The railways are at the
centre Of this whole process.
The Government has taken up
with all its energy the task Of
bringing the proflteer to book. max
ing the stocks Of necessaries in the
country available at lowered prices,
stimulating production and fscili-
tating distribution, and very favor
able results are already beginning
70 appear. There Is reason TO en-
tertain the confident hope that sub
stantial relief will result, and result
IN increasing measure. A general
increase I'm the level OF wages
would check and might defeat all
this at its very beginning. Such
increases would inevitably raise,
not lower, the cost Of living. Man
ufacturers and producers OF every
sort would have innumerable addi-
tional pretexts for increasing profits,
and all efforts to discover and defeat
proflteering would be hopelessly
confused.
believe that the present efforts
70 reduce the costs OF living will be
successful. II no new elements Of
difficulty are thrown IN the way,
and ! confidently count upon the
men engaged in the service Of the
railways 10 assist, not obstruct. It
Is much more In their interest TO
do this than 10 insist upon wage
increases. which will undo every
thing the Government attempts.
They are good Americans along
with the rest Of us and may, I am
sure. be counted on 70 see the point.
It goes without saying that IL our
efforts TO bring the cost OF living
down should fail, after we have had
time enough 10 establish either
success or failure, Il will, Of course
be necessary to accept the higher
costs Of living as e permanent basis
Of adjustment, and railway wages
should be readlusted along with the
rest. All that I am now urging Is
that we should not be guilty OF the
lnexcussble Inconsistency OF max
ing general increases In wages on
the assumption that the present
cost of living will be nernanenf at