The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-16
For the Good of
the Community


creaslng consumption or both. when produc-
ton exceeds consumption, the cost of living de-
cllnes; but when consumption exceeds produc-
ton, the cost of living Increases
So writes a student of economics who has
given many years to investigating industrial,
commercial and similar questions in this coun-
try. His utterance is but the summing up of
what everybody who has given thought to the
matter knows
II too much coal lis produced, naturally it's cost
to the consumer must decrease or production
cease. Ii there is an underproduction, then the
cost relatively is higher.
So it is with cotton, wheat corn and all the
other things needed to sustain life or make life
comfortable and worth while This constant
cry OF more pay for the man who makes things,
or higher prices for the things he makes, can
never settle the question of living cost.
While everybody comedies that the laborer,
and by this term is not meant alone the man who
digs coal, or stokes an engine or works in the
field, but every individual who applies himself
to some particular job, whether it be in office,
field, mill, furnace or mine, is a laborer, is en-
titled to just and reasonable compensation for
the services he renders. If he is skilled in his
work and turns out good job then he ought to
be paid accordingly. The more he does, and the
betterhe does it, the more pay he should receive.
Number OF hours Of work or the amount of the
products turned out in given time should be
the base OF pay and not fixed rate, regardless
OF Skill or industry on the part of the workman.
In the same article the writer mentioned says:
I'm the same way, when the people are educated
toregard with contempt the non-producer or the
man who curtails his production, we shall strike
at the tap root of the high cost of living"
That is the problem that must be worked out
in this country It is the solution to unrest and
discomfort When the people look upon the man
who deliberately curtails production with the
view to increasing his compensation for the
work performed in the same light that they re-
gard the loafer; when the people draw distinc-
ton between theman of energy and the man who
drags through the day with as little work as pos
sible, then may speeding up of work and more
skill in it's performance be expected.
Then may more reasonable prices for the ne
cessities of life be expected.
Too long working period in each "a hours
lessons mans ability to work efficiently, and
per contra, reducing the hours to too few num-
Der will CORRESPONDENCE reduce his efficiency,
in addition to running up the cost of production.
Thirty hours in week of 1853 hours would, in
the opinion of many who have investigated the
matter, be entirely inadequate from produc-
ton standpoint. Not only that but it would
make for ineffciency of labor. It would breed
extravaganza. twould leave oomuch time for
loafing or amusement seeking. With a 30-hour
week. 81 hours would be left in which person
would have nothing to do, assuming eight
hours Of sleep day to be sufficient, and it has
been so considered.
Get everybody to nrOdl1cinU and nrOducino an