Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-06-14


Transportation Act) has created a
situation by virtue of WHICH even its
promoters and advocates now freely
acknowledge the absolute failure and
collapse predicted by labor in the
very beginning.
The report says that the decisions
of the Railroad Labor Board in wage
cases have betoken no progressive
thought" and it characterizes as "a
deliberate backward step" the abro-
CATION by the board of the national
wage agreements.
"The Railroad Labor Board" the
report continues, has made yolunta-
ry agreement a relic of history. The
maximum demands are presented in
preliminary meetings. with the board
''as a court of appeal always in the
background. Thus, questions of
wages, working conditions and hours.
become matters for litigation instead
of negotiation. Neither party is sat
isfied as is abundantly evident Only
a minor fraction of the cases pre-
scented has been decided. The break
down is compete"
The report goes on to say that it is
necessary to look to the future for the
development of sound constructive
program under which the nation may
be assured of competent. fair and
economical operation and control of
the railroads with 1abor's right to ex-
ercise its moral activities and free
dom safeguarded."
orii
living. the Council says the practice
of fixing wages solely on the basis of
cost of living is violation of the
whole philosophy in progress and
civilization and, furthermore, is a
violation of sound economic theory
and utterly without logic or scientific
support.
The practice, it is added. results
IN a tendency to classify human be-
1ngs and to STANDARDIZED classes, each
class having a presumptive right to a
gwen quantity of various commo-
oities'
The Council declares that profiteer-
ing in food continues
While wholesale prices decreased
retailers continued to charge unrea- :
sonabie. prices" it asserts. 'Of all
The remedies proposed none is more
to be recommended than those sub
mltted to President Harding by the
Federal Trade Commission that there
was no justification for a reduction of
wages. The commission held that
the first object should be to increase,
rather than lessen the purchasing
power of the ordinary consumer"
Regarding proposals of the Trade
commission that full publicity be
given TO the results of investigation
by II OF the costs and profits in es-
sentlai industries the report saws that
III the people are in full possession
OF all the facts or costs of distribu
ton and the profits made on the nee
essaf1es OF life. public opinion would
nave powerful effect in reducing
prices. and there would be no neces-
sity OF prosecution under the Sher-
man antitrust law" 1t is added that
1t Is also believed that in all Iegis-
iation providing for the regulation of
corporations or monopolies the uues-
tion OF publicity should be incorpo-
rated"
Regarding Japanese exclusion. the
Council has this to say:
The citizens of California are ius.
uned IN. viewing with alarm and an
prehension the results of the Ian.
anese invasion in that state. The
Japanese colonize together and have
gradually driven out American citi
zens from the most fertile farm lands
IN the state. They underseH the Amer
ican farmer because of their low
standards of living.
The 'gentlemen's agreement. with
Japan mas proven to be a failure he
cause the Japanese in a cunning and
steaithy manner have outwitted tho
intent of the law. This peril is not
only serious condition for Califor-
MA but it is positive menace to orr
entire nation. The American Fed-
Grafton Of Labor is fully justified in
taking firm stand to do away with
the 'gentlemen's agreement and in its
place inaugurate a definite policy call
ing Tor total exclusion of .Japanese
with all other orientals. We should
also go on record as favoring any leg
lsiatlon of the character that may be
presented in Congress by the Califor-
MIA delegation in the Senate and
House of Representatives
To-day our people are confronted