The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-03-25

der to report the measures to the
house for consideration. This filibus-
ter on the part Of one member defeat
ed expeditions work and led to a de-
cision to take months recess to al
low the committees to get ready and
report for consideration. The matter
was presented to the senate. 1t was
agreed to take that plan. The resolu-
ton was adopted on Tuesday for the
recess to begin the following Satur-
day. Both Clark and Kitchin Joined in
the proposal on the afternoon of
Friday the speaker of the house re-
ceived a letter from the president re-
questing that congress cancel its plan
of recess and remain in Washington
to reduce the cost of living by enacting
more laws Ladies and gentlemen,
regard that political play of the eX-
ecutive on a level with He kept us out
of war;
Causes of the High Cost Level.
ut is to be deplored that false hopes
are created by the assumption from
high authority that the high cost
level is a matter of legislation, and if
il is not lowered congress is at fault
This political play was overworked by
the department Of Justice which pub
llished its success i'm lowering the cost
lwhile the price current was steadily
rising. The high level of cost is not
due to lack of legislation. 1t is due to
a policy of inaction of the executive
department on the one hand and meth
DDS of business on the other In the
building of the war machine the gov
eminent became the responsible
builder 1t secured the country for
labor. the wages of which constitute
at least so per cent of the cost of any
article. taking both skilled and un-
skilled in aviation fields, cantonments,
shipyards, muntion plants, and all in
dustries doing war work. It thus be
came the major employer of labor. 1t
dealt in borrowed money. 1t never
asked the cost. 1t simply ordered the
work. 1t took at least six distinct
steps. each one of which pushed higher
the cost level:
81. Abnormany increased wages.
80 Shortened hours of tworlS.
g. Time and half for overtime
double for Sundays
"A. Increased number Of workers to
the piece.
-. Entered upon housing Of labor
&c. Paid transportation from out
living districts to the center.
Every industry not engaged in war
work was compelled to meet the gov
eminent in competition for labor,
hence the governments wage scale be-
came the scale of all industries and
the added cost was passed on to the
public. These items alone would more
than double the cost Of work This
was not congress, but the executive
departments.
Cost Plus System.
I'm addition the government adopt
ed the cost plus contract which at
once was a signal for new and higher
Sc bedule: the higher cost, the higher
the plus. No man win ever know how
much this vicious contract added tc
te cost Of production Then congress
assisted in adopting the democratic
excess profits tax which virtually said
.profiteer all you wish and the govern
ment will take 60 or so per cent Of it,
Nc man will ever know how much this
item added to the level of cost. Al
to~ether we see q very abnormall!
high cost. The cost of living always
goes higher than the cost of labor
Wages consequently can not conn
down with living higher than wages
OF course, living can not come dowi