Arizona republican., 1919-08-26

hope for large decreases in the burd- ensome cost of living which now weighs us down.
 'The director general of railroads and have felt that 8 peculiar respon- sibility rests upon us, because in de- termining this question we are not studying the balance sheets of corporations merely, we are in effect determining the burden of the taxation which must fall upon the people of the country in general. We are acting, not as private corporations but in the name of the government and the public and must assess our responsibility accord ingiy. For it is neihter wise or feasible to take care of increases in wages of railroad employees at this time by in cFeases in freight rates. It is impos- ssble at this time. until peace has come and normal conditions are restored. to estimate what the earning capacity of the railroads will be when ordinary conditions return. There is no certain
 basis, therefore, for calculating what the increases in freight rates should 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 through the public treasury.
 Tn such circumstances. it seems clear to me and believe will seem clear to every thoughtful American. inelud : ing the shopmen themselves when they
 have taken second thought and to all
 wage earnerS of every kind, that we ought to postpone questions of this sort
 until normal conditions come again and i we have the opportunity for certain | PAtPnfafinn a ha hat l wages and the cost of living. It is the | duty of every citizen of the country to 1 insist upon a truce in such contests until intelligent settlements can be made, and made by peaceful and ef- i fectiye common counsel l appeal to l my fellow citizens of every employment l to co operate in insisting upon and maintain such a truce and to cooperate also in sustaining the government in
 what conceive to be the only course which conscious public servants can pursue. Demands unwisely made and 1 passionately insisted upon at this time | menace the peace and propserity of the
 country as nothing else could and thus contributing to bring about the very 1 results which such demands are in tended to remedy.
 There is. however, one claim made by the railway shopmen which ought l to be met. They claim that they are not enjoying the same advantages that
 other railway employees are enjoying because their wages are calculated or different basis. The wages of other
 railway emplyes are based upon the | rule that they are to receive for eight i hours work the same pay they received
 at longer work day that was the usua i standard of the pre-war period. This ] claim is, 1 am told, we'll founded; and i l concur in the conclusion of the di- i rector general that the shopmen ought l to be given the additional four cents ar
 hour which the readjustment asked fol will justify. There are certain other
 adjustments, pointed out in the report
 of the director general which ought 1T fairness be mede and will be made. Let me add, also that the position 1 which the government must in con. 1 science take against general increases i in wage levels while the present ex.
 ceptionai and temporary circumstances
 exist will of course not preclude ths railroad administration from givins ] prompt and careful consideration tf
 any claims that may be made by ethel l classes of employees for readjustments 1 believed to be proper to secure inpar. 1 tiai treatment for all who work in tht l railway service.
 WOODROW WILSON.
 The White House, August 25, 1sI9.'