The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-08-29

weights us down"
"The director general of railroads
and l have felt that peculiar respon-
sibility rests upon us because in de-
termining this question we are not
studying the balance sheets Of corpo-
rations, but in effect determining
the burden of taxation which must
fall 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 responsibility
accordingly. For it is neither wise
nor feasible to take care of the in
creases in the wages Of railroad en-
ployes at this time by increasing
freight rates. 1t is impossible at this
time, until peace has come and nor
NAL conditions are restored, to es-
innate what the earning capacity Of
the railroads will be when ordinary
conditions return. There is no cer-
tain 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 increases in the wages Of
railway employees through appropria-
tions from the public treasury.
Would Postpone Action.
Gin such circumstances it seems
clear to me, and believe will seem
clear to every thoughtful American,
including the shopmen themselves
when they have taken second
thought, and to all wage earners OF
every kind, that we ought to post
pone questions Of this sort until nor
NAL conditions come again and we
have the opportunity for certain cal
culations as to the relation between
wages and the cost Of living. 1t is
the duty Of every citizen Of the coun-
try to insist upon truce in such
contests until intelligent settlements
can be made, and made by peaceful
and effective common counsel.
appeal to my fellow citizens Of every
employment to cooperate in insist
ing upon and maintaining such a
truce and to cooperate also in sus-
tanning the government in what con-
ceive, to be the only course which
conscientious public servants can
pursue. Demands unwisely made
and passionately insisted upon at this
time menaces the peace and pros
perity of the country as nothing else
could, and thus contribute to bring
about the very results which such
demands are intended to remedy.
"There is, however, one claim made
by the railway shopmen which ought
to be met. They claim that they are
not enjoying the same advantages
that other railway employees are en-.
joying because their wages are cal
culated upon a different basis. The
wages of other railway employees are
based upon the rule that they are to
receive for eight hours work the
same pay they received for the long
er work day that was the usual stand
ard of the pre-war period. This claim
is, / am told, well founded and | con-
cur in the conclusion of the director
general that the shopmen ought to be
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.
ssLet me add, also, that the position
which the government must in con-
science take against general increases
in wage levels while the present ex-
ceptional and temporary circum-
stances exist will of course not pre-
clude the railroad administration
from giving prompt and careful con-
sideration 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 serv-
ice.
Woodrow Wilson"
Both Busy.