The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-06-18
THE WAGE
REDUCTIONS

1t Is not a pleasant thing to think
about that 100000. 900 is to be Topped
off the pay of the railroad workers
of this country. However, this $780,
100000 represents just two-thirds of
the increase which was granted the
railway men last July. Slashes in
salaries have been in progress for
several months; it is part of the re-
adjustment of business that has been
going on for some time.
There are few citizens who will be
glad to hear that any other man has
had his wages cut. But all of us have
known right along that the pay of the
railroad man would have to come
down If the country is going to get
back into the shape We are insisting
upon. We have also known that it
would be impossible to lower the
wages of other workers and permit
the railroad men to still receive the
same salaries they have been enjoy
luk lOI ScNtl dl tnOntAo. hat 10 LII
possible, just as it is impossible for
everybodys wages to remain up and
the price of food and clothing tumble
They went up together, or pretty close
together, and they must come down
the same way.
But the reduction in rail wage
should not be the end of readjustment
insofar as the railroads are con-
cerned. Freight, express and pas
senger rates are far too high-they
should be cut just the same as the pay
of the men, and there should be no
long delay about it. Lower freight
rates will do more to restore the nor
NAL cost of living than anything else,
and we believe now that the govern
ment proposes to make the roads re-
duce their rates as speedily as they
ordered the cut in wages.
Perhaps, too, the railroads would be
better off if rates were cut, though, as
with everything else, those affected
might not think SO now. In Winnie
mucca the fact that many women and
an enormous number Of men are rid
ing on freight trains has caused con-
siderable comment If one stops to
think, however, there be bigger rea-
son than appears OH the surface.
Take, for instance, a $5-a-day man
who finds it necessary to visit some
Eastern state He has worked long
and hard to save up a few hundred
dollars, and the proposed trip would
require that he pay to a railroad
agent a large portion of those saw
ings, all at one time, in return for
which he would receive small piece
of cardboard emitting him to ride on
a passenger train.
Jobs are scarce and wages are tum-
bling rapidly. If he spends those saw
ings 1t will be a long, long time be-
fore he can accumulate more. What
is the natural line of reasoning for
any man, and some women, who are
used to more or less of hardships.
Why, buy a pair of overalls, bum
their way, and just collect from them
selves about fifteen dollars a day 1t
would cost to ride passenger trains.
1t is far more than they could earn
In any other way, even were oppor-
tunities to earn plentiful.
1t may be that here We find solu-
ton to empty passenger trains and
the enormous number of 'tramps"
riding freights. Also it may provide
a reason for the seeming unwilling
ness of a large number to accept work
of any description-they don't want
work because they have definite
destination and want to get there as
rapidly as possible.
Perhaps a substantial reduction in
passenger fares by the railroads
would be a method Of increasing gross
receipts. Certain it is that with re-