Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-08-06

to get in his way; the man who fin
gered a time ticket went to a happy
hunting ground where money leaped
and gambolled and came to his beck
and call.
The government was careful to see
that cantonment workers were ade-
quately compensated, and the high
est wage scale prevailed. A man did
not have to know much about car
pentering or steam-fitting to get
job, and once on the job, he stood
about as much chance of being dis
charged as the man in olive drab
who was single and had no depend
ents. Bosses were solicitous lest he
work too hard Get in the clear"
was the frequent order, meaning
Seem to be doing something even
if there is nothing to do" A num-
Der of witnesses testified at hearings
that they were instructed to take it
easy. These witnesses were con-
scientious men. Imagine how the
natural-born lazy swallowed a sug-
gestion like that get in the clear
order.
Here again, war was a matter of
dollars and cents. The government
went on the assumption that workers
in these essential war projects were
patriotic. But the government did
not assume that their patriotism was
its own reward. The government
saw to it that the financial interests
of the workers were well safe
guarded.
Cantonments and the building
thereof were only one phase of
Americas vast war machinery. An
other was the spruce project. You
know the government undertook the
supervision of the production of
spruce for airplanes. A spruce
army" of about $4,000 men was
built up. At army wages? Hardly.
These men received from $3.50 to
So daily, worked eight-hour shifts
and had fair living conditions.
In the spruce service it was no I'M
common thing to award large cost
plus contracts. Three of these ag-
gregated $39,OOO,OOO.
Then there was the War Finance
Corporation, which was created by
act of congress approved April 5,
1918. It's duties were to lend the
government financial aid wherever
needed, to act as the balancing force
in nation thrown out of balance by
the war. It's field was broad cover
ing banks, building and loan associa-
tons, public utilities, railroads, cat
tie and crops, among other things.
The corporation helped electric roads
in distress, aided banks in taking is
sues of Liberty Bonds, tided cattle
raisers over dry seasons.
The last annual report of the man
aging director of the War Finance
Corporation shows that $1,5SO,SS9,>
1861 was disbursed for the year
ending November 80, 1919.
In addition the government ad-
vanced money to finance corporations
doing strictly war work. The War
Credits Board took care of this The
total amount advanced comes to
1856, ,568.19. This money was
lent at interest that averaged 5 %
per cent secured by adequate col
lateral. Of course, the navy depart
ment made other loans, and so did
The shipping board.
A fixed price on wheat was guar
anteed to the farmer, and wage in
creases were pledged to railroad
workers and miners. Civil Service
employees got $40 a month bonus
to help meet the h. c. l. Nor was
such help withdrawn when the war
ended. This bonus is still being paid
The work of the War Claims
Board since the armistice has been
to compromise contracts with manu-
facturers and clean up on war bust
ness. Up to March 81 of this year,
,528,625,0 900 in contracts were
liquidated at $320,216,00O. The
manufacturers have been compensat-
ed, in total, 3 per cent of what they
would have received if they had gone
ahead and filled their contracts.
Thus it will be seen that the wal
was largely matter of dollars and
cents, and that in those cases where
the interests of patriotic war work.
ers had to be financially safeguard
ed, the government never shesitated
to come to their aid, to be waiting
for them in many cases with help.