The New York herald., 1921-10-17

strike on themselves and on the public.
There Is no amount OF propaganda that
can convince the people that either
side Is entirely blameless.
ION the first day OF July the Railroad
Labor Board made effective a decision
which reduced the wages OF railway eni-
ployees IL per cent. aggregating ap 'p'
$500. 100000 per annum. basing the e
mate on the normal number OF 'ni
pioyees. Since then by revision OF
only a part of the working rules OF o. ~
one class Of employees the carriers nave
received further benefits amounting to
many millions of dollars.
New Demand by Carriers.
"Friday the carriers notified the EN-
pioyees they would ask the labor board
for further wage cut OF 10 per cent
At the same time assuring the purilc
that the shippers and the people should
have the benefit of this wage reduction
In the form OF reduced freight rates
ITO this proposition the employees
reply that no general reduction OF
freight rates followed the s40O.00O,ooo
wage reduction of July Il; that the
cost of living has not been sufficiently
lowered since July to justify another
wage reduction. and that they VIII strike
without even awaiting a decision OF the
labor board as to whether another
wage reduction is just and reasonable.
"This is the stage which the con-
troversy has now reached.
There is at least one feasible plan
by which 1t can be settled and a strike
averted. That plan Is predicated upon
an excellent suggestion made by Gen.
Atterbury OF the Pennsylvania Haiiroau
in ais speech before the convention OF
vehicle and implement manufacturers al
Chicago last Friday.
Atterbury Is Quoted.
sIIis suggestion is quoted as follows
Nevertheless. II Is fact that the
carriers. though they are not earning
what they should earn TO entitle them
TO be called prosperous, nor what the
law intends they shall earn. cannot
rest under such protection while other
business struggles for It's life. II
would be wise policy for the car
riers publicly to avow that view ana
voluntarily reduce rates where they
now work hardship. even though such
rates may be reasonable In trans
po-tation sense. and even though to
reduce them means loss OF revenue
to the carriers. The carriers can do
this of their own volition. where II
would be improper for the Interstate
Commerce Commission to do so. The
result would be a temporary check
IN the rising fortunes of the carriers.
and that they can i'll afford. but 1t
would be a step In the restoration OF
sound business conditions, and the
public should give to the carriers q
real appreciation OF their act.
IF the railroads will Immediately. In
good faith. adopt this suggestion OF
Gen. Atterbury. the situation can be
cleared up, freight rates reduced to
clippers. the cost Of living reduced "a
the consumers. and a stimulating errec;
exerted upon all business.
'.we would suggest that the wage cut
OF July l be translated at once into Q
reduction Of freight rates. This would
be much more tangible and satisfactory
TO- the public than to promise thai
future wage reductions will be passed
on to the people in the form Of reduced
freight rates.
Expected by the Public.
''The public undoubtedly expected this
result when the July wage reduction
though somewhat delayed. would be
highly gratifying. That direct benefits
would promptly follow and that the
psychological effect would be instantly
beneficial cannot be doubted.
Such reduction In the cost of living
as might result from this and other
uses would inure to the benefit of the
railway employees and would consti-
tute one of the statutory grounds for
q further reduction In wages. At the
same time, II would have tendency
to reduce the cost OF material supplies
to tho carriers. and it would not ther
be necessary for the carriers to rely
solely upon wage cuts for a reduction
on syei- operating expenses.
"DeAation should be general and. al
far as possible, uniform. Up to thi'
time the farmer Is the only man thai
has Debated. and he came to the eartf
with a thud. This was because he die
not possess the parachute or organiza'
tion to break his fall.
"Another catastrophe of that sor'
should be avoided II nossible. Wages
and freight rates should come to just
and rsasonabie level uniformly or by
alternating stages.
'Of course nothing In these observa'
tions should be construed to indicate
what the action of the labor board Will
be on any wage dispute that may bs
continue to be adjusted by the board In
accordance with the evidence submitted
and the requirements OF the transpor'
tation act. When reductions are justi'
fable they Will be given.
Not Debating to I. @. @.
at must be understood that there Is
no intention TO indicate, In any sense
the duty OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission in the premises.
'Tn this connection Il may be In
formative to the public to know wna'
factors the transportation act requires
the Labor Board TO consider In fixing
wages. They are az follows:
"(1), The scale OF wages paid for SINH
lar kinds of work In other industries
ca, the relation between wages and tn,
cost Of living: (3). the hazards of III,
employment 90. the training and skill
required; (5). the degree of responsible
ity; (6), the character and regularit,
of employment: (D. inequalities of In
creases In wages or OF treatment. th'
result of previous wage orders or ad
1ustments. Other relevant circumstance.
are also to be considered.
's1t is obvious that the first two fac
tors above named are subject to fire.
uuent change and that. during a pos
war period of readjustment, the change,
may be rapid and radical, necessitatins
a moro frequent revision OF wage sche
dulles than would ordinarily be neces
eary.
Suggestions Are Condensed.