Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-08-07
REQUEST FOR PROFIT SHARING

REQUEST FOR PROFIT SiARlNG
at marks the step by which organized
labor passes from demands for wage-in-
creases to demand that the system of profits
In industry be overhauled. Hitherto, dur
ing successive wage negotiations anu arpl-
trntlon awards we have called for provi-
sional settlements only. of questions arts
ing out Of differences as to wages, hours and
conditions of labor. That principle OF
genuine cooperation and partnership based
upon real community of interest and par
ticipation in control of which President
Wilson has spoken to Congress- has been
ignored both by labor and by private owners
Of the railroads.
what wage increases have been received
during the last few years resulted only in
immediately being followed by more than
proportionate increases in the cost of living.
Each rise in wages has turned out to mean
only temporary relief for the affected work
ers When the increases have gone around
;hc circle, labor as producer loses the ad-
vantage Of the new wages through the addi-
tirnal cost it pays as consumer. Moreover,
through compounded profits taken on tbs 81
wage increases each cycle becomes an up
ward spiral of costs which the consuming
public Nainly reaches to control.
ADVOCATES PUBLIC CONTROL
AS the major part Of the consuming
public labor is entitled to representation on
the directorate of the public railroads. as
a producer of capital 1t is entitled to repro
sentaton of the directorate of the railroads.
To capital which is the fruit Of yesterday $
{ labor propose to discharge every
Just obligation, We demand that the own
crs of capital who represent only hnan-
cial interest distinguished from operat-
ing brains and Snergy be retired from
management, receiving government bonds
with fixed interest return for every
/ honest dollar that they have invested in
/ the railway industry. We ask that the
/ railroads OF the United States be vested
/ in the public that those actual" engaG,
in conducting that industry not from Wall
Street, but from the railroad offices md
yards and out the railroad lines, shall
! take charge II this service for thu pablo
"These represent all the brains, skill and
energy that is in The business They are
! entitled to that measure of control which is
equal to their ability and their RESPONSE
bility for operating the transportation prop
critics. Then. and then only will the serv-
ice be primarily for the public nor profits
to spectators and inhators Of capital. ~
means for accomplishing this end, we ask
that II lease be granted to corporation
created not for profit, but for public service
We ask that this corporation be controlled
in its management by equal representa-
ton of three fundamental interests upor
which industry is based. The public. operat
ing managers. and wage earners will ther
guarantee both the integrity Of the invest
! ment required for the conduct Of the indus
try and that return which induces II, b.
investing. to enter the public service
PUBLIC SHOULD SHARE EARNINGS
1.-THE public as consumers and the operat
ing managers and wage earners as producer
/ having Joined in that guarantee, Will theI
share equally all earnings in excess of thu
amounts required to meet the guarantee.
This is provided by granting to tn
wage earners and management one-half o
the savings which they through their per
fected organizations can make and by secur
ing to the public the other half to be en-
joyed by the consumers, either by increa sin
the means for service without increasin,
fixed charges Of by reducing the cost o
the service which the machinery then IL
existence render. Thus the cost o
transportation is automa tically reduced eX
actly in proportion as benefits accrue to tn
producers of transportation. Increase ii
earning power Of producers under this sys
IT must be balanced by decreased costs.
THE railroads are the key industry Of tn
nation. They affect at once the price 0
every necessity. As increased transporta
ton costs are reflected in the Increased pric
Of all commodities so reduction in thos
costs must be reflected by reduced prices.
I'VE say this because of labor's interes
as consumer, as part Of over-burdene
public. This fundamental statement of prin
ciple respectfully submit to the Ameri
can people"
Chairman Cummins of the Senate Inter
state Commerce Committee to-day called
committee meeting for tomorrow to discus
railroad problems and determine whethe
hearings shall be reopened