Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-08-01
HEED PROTESTS
fcsntinusd srum p.u. onsa

0 u XDA44
fcsntisusd frem Paus One,
ed by ths commission ON industries
representing ST.. Ooe. 600, 600 worth Of
capital. a. the result of its activities
during the war IN advising tho B0x-
eminent that prices % ply for TN
millions Of dollars of purchase made
by IL Fur this reason. It in believed
the commission n ready to urge that
further Investigations, which seem
To be foreshadOHed by resolutions
peuA1ng in Congress, would only
muddie tho sifiastiun. causing the
loso Of valuable time and thu vzsta
Of thu money involved.
The cummtnatun's Investigation.
during the war. all Of which deaI
chiefly with the most authoritative
information derived from the booss
of companies involved. are said %
have shown that profteertne was IT
minimum IN the retail trades most
OF the exorbitant profits which arr
being made going to the mauufacr,,r-
ers and wholesalers. As = remedy
the commission generally il under
stood to favor a Icensinr sv.t.rn
for corporations doing an inter-stat.
ousanees. the system 70 be appiicti
nrst In enose cases where the muict-
ING or the public has been most IA
gravity.
Mr. Lee said a resoiut,on cor..,,-
ing this declaration. WHICH had -,
aoopoeo last night by the specssl
commitsee Of 1s appointed 1t the re-
cent convention OF the tratumen NJ
Coiumnus- O.. viii be sent to the
raaircad administration. The reso-
iuuon provided that in thu ahsence
OIL dcuon by October 1 the cnmmst-
ice would reconvene to consider 'tne
necessity for using the protective fea-
lures or the brotherhood
Inc committee represented asa =
WV men. Two broad subjects were
up Tor consideration-ereati of a
naoona3 agreement and a very suh-
s1An1aA increase In wages TO meet
increased living costs, which the
COMMITTEES said had caused a serious
state OF unrest among the shop men.
We are now officially assured bv
the director general that the rail
road administration win sign an
agreement" said the telegram To the
snop men. An earnest effort in now
being made by the director general
to give Us definite information al
earliest possible moment as to DO
stlon OF railroad administration re-
garding wage matters.
The successful termination Of
our Efforts depends upon the united
support OF al men involved. There
must be no stoppage Of work during
these negotiations. We will advise
you as soon as we are in possession
or further definite information"
Answering questions, Mr.. Lee satd Ia
did not believe in giving any one class
advantages 1t the expense Of another.
but said that as long as prsEent meth
DDS continue he believed in everybody
getting his share as nearly as he could
Until the final upheaval comes-and in
my opinion it il looking IN IN the sace >
ae declined 10 suggest how prices
could be reduced. saying the country
was paving millions Of dollars to She
men on the hill tcapito.) who are sup
posed TO have all the brains in the
country" and they are not acting TO
stop the increases.
Il am not a red card man. but I am
coming close to il II this thing keeps
up." MI. Lee said.
Asked what would be his opinion as
&c wage rates tased on present food
prices il the price level should decline
materially, NJ. Lee said he did not
feel justified in going into the question
bur asked tn be allowed TO tell OF his
experiences In the recent strike ut Win.
aipes. where. he said. he ,2und conserv-
atiEe. homecoming members of his or.
- MIA ton throwing away all they had
gained in . years % membership and
joining the general strike because they
said Ito hell with all this; we can not
stand it any more. Come with US and
we will correct it" Mr. Lee said they
not knowing what tomorrow would
bring forth. He declared he could noi
Justify the fact that wheat was s. =
IL this country and -four perhaps Sc q
barrel. when -four made from the SAINT
grade of grain sells IN England for g. II
Il want, il possible TO see some pla-
devised here that VIII permit somebody
to say that beef. pork and commodi
ties Of that kind can not 60 above {
certain price" Mr.. Lee said.
M. Lee also expressed emphatic dis
approval of ''cost-pIus" war contracts
by which he said owners Of inferio,
industries had obtained fine plants ant
rig profits at the expense of taxpayers
It was such things. he declared. which
caused the railroad employees. faced n'
growing expenses. TO be willing to fol
low red flag or anything else tina