Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-01-21

Slu Will De SIdt " w ucl part.
In my judgment the most difficult
problem of reconstruction is to bring
all prices down to a normal basis
| There is an abundance of work IL
sight for all for years to come. Public
and private building has been delayed
and railroads require the expenditure
of vast sums of money in betterments
and in the building of new extensions
However, much of this necessary work
will be delayed until it can be done
for normal prices. In the end 1t viii
be better for all concerned if the re
duction in the cost of production will
be brought about by an understanding
between capital and labor than to
have it forced upon US by stagnatior
in business and enforced idleness.
| The reduction in the cost of produc
ton must necessarily carry with 1t q
corresponding reduction in the cost oil
| living, and to meet this situation fair
ly, which | believe must be done, the
employers profit, the employees wage
the cost of food, the cost of distribu
ton and the distributor must each
bear his fair share of the shrinkage
The important object to be accom-
plished is to bring about the necessary
readjustment from a war to peace
basis without friction between labor
and capital Neither side should be
permitted to take advantage of the
other and all men should appreciate
that the one thing to avoid at this
time is business paralysis and en-
forced idleness.
These problems should be met in
the same patriotic spirit which
prompted us to aid our government
during the war. We were willing to
make concessions to each other then
and we should do so now. Speaking in
general terms the wages (which the
laboring man can receive will be con-
trolled by what the product Of his
labor can be sold for on the market.
When wage reductions are undertaken
it would be a source of much satisfac-
ton to the laboring man and to the
employees generally If they could be
convinced that the rate of pay which
is being offered is all that the en-
ployer can afford to pay, and that he
is exacting merely a reasonable profit
for himself.
1 believe it would be helpful during
the period of reconstruction If labor
could be given access to a state board
which might determine, whenever II
is asked to do so, whether the wage
which is being paid is a reasonable
compensation in view of the selling
price of labor's product. l feel conf
dent that a statement from state au-
thority that the rate of pay offered is
fair compensation based upon the
value of the product produced would
go far towards maintaining a salts
factory relation between capital and
labor.
1 recommend that you pass an act
creating a commission, to consist of
manufacturers and laborers, which
shall have the power to investigate
any manufacturer or business that en-
ploys labor and determine whether the
wages offered are a reasonable COM
pensation for the services performed,
and whether the rate paid is all that
can reasonably be expected to be paid
under existing business conditions
and the price ebtainable for the prod
uct manufactured; also whether he
wages offered are sufficient to guaran-
tee fair living under the conditions
existing including the price of food.
1t is not my thought that this COM
mission shall have the right to fix
wages. It's functions should be to de-
termine what is right and fair between
employer and employee. I believe
when that is established we may safe
1y leave the finer adjustments to them.
The commission which / recommend
should have the power to employ the
necessary accountants, the commits
sioners themselves to receive only a
reasonable per diem for services &C.
tually performed and the life of the
commission may be limited to two
years.
Railroads.
What to do with our railroads is
one of the serious problems that con-
fronts Congress- at. this time. In our
own state we need better passenger
service, a more liberal freight service
and lower rates, both passenger and
freight. AS understand it many lines
are now being operated with a grow
ing deficit under their government
contracts. Under those conditions we
cannot look for any substantial re-
duction in rates or improved and more
costly service unless the government
stands ready to make good further
and larger deficits.
The cost of transportation plays an
important part in the problems of re-
construction. If business is going to
be re-established on a paying basis
that will enable the employer to pay
big wages 1t will be necessary to seek
new markets in order to secure the
volume of trade. The present system
of high rates that are inf1exible, ex-
cept as they are still further advanced,
do not promise any substantial aid to
the shipper in his efforts to widen his
field; nor shall we be able to extend
our commerce to foreign countries on
the combination of rates now made for
land and water transportation.
believe it to be a general demand
among the people that we put trans
portation back to somewhere near the
basis that it was. before the roads
were taken over by the governn emit
for war PURPOSES. II will be helpful
to our members Of Congress if you
Will give an expression of sentiment
on this important question and rec
ommend that you pass resolution de-
manding lower rates of transportation,
better service, both freight and passen-
ger. and a return of the railroads of
this country to their owners Just as