The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-23
LET'S HAVE THE FACTS.


A degree of bitterness appears in
the presentation of views of both
sides in the railroad wage contro-
versy before the railroad labor board.
This should not be. What the board
and the public want is facts. Di-
rectly. there is q controversy between
railroad companies and their en-
ployes over the question of wages.
Indirectly the issue affects all the
people of the country. for every seller
or buyer of goods and every traveller
is affected by the costs of railroad
operation. The patrons of the rail-
roads pay the wages.
AS is well known there was an in
crease in railroad wages in 1915 by
governmental order after the railroad
brotherhoods had threatened to strike
If their demands were not met by a
certain day and hour. In response to
the urgent recommendation of Presi-
dent Wilson, the Adamson Act was
passed> and Mr.. Wilson signed it.
Later, under government operation of
the roads, wages were increased from
time to time, and the scale of COM
pensation remained at the government
figure when the roads were turned
back to private management. There
have been adjustments in wage scales
in most large employing concerns but
none in railroad employment, for the
reason that the law provides for GER
tain conferences, appeals. hearings
and formal decisions by a board. The
railroads propose reduction of sala-
ries and wages. from top ito bottom,
with equitable adjustments which
make allowance for differences in
rates of increase under governmental
orders. In support of their proposal
the railroad managers cite the fact
that there have been adjustments in
other lines of employment, and that
government statistics show that a
large proportion of the railroad mile
age of the country is now operated at
a loss.
If this were question between the
railroad owners and railroad en-
ployes alone. the public could afford
to sit by and await the outcome. Sut
the public is the party to the contro-
versy most vitality affected, and, there
fore, most extensively interested. The
public is and always has been willing
to pay a fair and equitable wage and
to have the employees work under
proper conditions. But, on the other
hand, the public is entitled to have
wages and working conditions ad-
justed if out of harmony with wages
and conditions in other lines of in
dustry and enterprise. Whether the
'compensations of railroad employees,
IL continued on a wartime basis, are
out of proportion to wages in indus
tries that have gone thru a read
justment. is a question to be discussed
and In the discussion public opinion
will be a large if not a controlling
factor.
The railway wage increases began
with an arbitrary advance granted in
pursuance of an act of Congress,
and not thru collective bargaining.
The chosen representatives of the
public authorized arbitrary increase
without the consent of the employers.
The employees can hardly justify
themselves. therefore. In complaining
at an arbitrary decrease in corre-
spending degree without their con-
sent.
The situation presented is one that
will not wait indefinitely for remedies.
The suggestion of the leaders of the
four brotherhoods that any change in
wage scales can come only after ex-
tended misunderstanding long delay
lis one that will not, find much sup
port outside of the offices of the
brotherhoods. The public is entitled
to continuous transportation service
at a scale of compensation on a par
with that realized by other enter
prises and, whatever the procedure,
the public will expect reasonably
rapid action.