The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-08
LIVING WAGE THEORY
 NOT ACCEPTABLE ID ROADS SAYS WALBER
Represents Standard on Which Certain Persons Would Like to Live, Says Spokesman
 for tsie Barriers
By Associn9ed Press

Chicago, May 7.-, adopt ths theory .ot the living wage as a basis for deter- mining railroad wages would be to "ac- cept an untried theory of state socialism or to countenance creation of super privileged class" according to John G.. Walber, summing up the testimony of the carriers in the wage reduction case before the railroad labor board today. Mr. Walber. who represented the east ern roads, completed the roads rebuttal and brought their fight for lower wages to conclusion in a lengthy argument in which he attacked the whole theory of the living wage, urged by the employees as the fundamental principle in the wage case.
 The living wage, according to the rail- roads Investigations, Mir Walber said, was not an amount necessary to main tain an employe and his family, but rep resents a standard on which certain per- sons would like to live"
 "The theory of the living wage Is not new MT. Walber continued. We do not intend to ignore it, but we believe the American people should know it's real purport, and the ultimate effect of such a socialistic theory as that laid down by the railroad employees.
 ''The railroads are anxious and willing to pay employees a just and reasonable wage for just and reasonable service. We are not ignoring Humanitarian consider ations but on the other hand, we are up against practical problem, and utcpian ideals. however pleasing to con- template will not satisfy the railroad men nor any one else on pay day" REVIEWS ALL EVIDENCE Mir Walber reviewed all the evidence presented by the railroads, declaring that the roads had clearly shown reduc- ton in the cost of living since the wage award of July, 1920. Regarding charges of improper financing and mismanage- ment, made by the employees, he said. ..Nothing could be further from the truth or from the question now at issue." He declared that railroad exhibits proved that. contrary to the employees contentious, railroad wages had increased in greater proportion than the cost of living. Mir Walber reviewed the history of past wage negotiations. adding that previously the employees had used as their principal arguments the cost of living and comparative wages with those in outside industries.
 i've cannot conceive that this is an orportune time to inaugurate an untried socialiastic experiment with one partic- ular group or the ndLlons B Wofkefs, ne said. Suppose that a minimum wage Is established for railroad workers. This class then is to receive emoluments sim ply because they are railroad work CTS. and have the economic power to en- force their will on thd rest of the roun- try. How long are workers in other in- dustries going to permit such one- sided state of affairs? Most serious evils would result to this country if any at tempt were made to apply the so-called principle without having worked out in d most comprehensive manner the method of its application
 ALL MERE THEORIES
 Labor's charge that it was considered a commodity by the railroads; that many economies could be effected by the roads and that capital had combined to crush labor. were theories which exist only in the minds of few individuals. Mr Wal ber said.
 George F. Brownell speaking for the Erie and other eastern roads earlier to- day. declared an emergency existed in inc railroad industry and asked the board to suspend its wage award of July. 19zD. nending a new adjustment of wages.
 When the roads completed their case the employees asked permission to ffle a written reply to any statement of the carriers which they desired to answer ana the hearing was concluded,
 No snfo-.nation' was given as to when a decision would be handed down, but 1t was said that the board would require at leas. month to digeft the evidence before it.