The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1921-03-29
A CRITICAL SITUA-
TON

more the nation rs confronted by q
critical transportation situation "a
Isituation that demands the thought
Iful attention OF all the people" ad-
imonishes the Republican Publicity
association, through its president.
Hon Jonathan Bourne Jr. Directly
there is a controversy between rail-
road companies and their employees
over the question of wages. Indi-
rectiy the issue affects all the people
of the country, for the seller or buy
err of goods and every traveller Is
affected by the costs of railroad op-
Grafton. The patrons of the railroads
| pay the wages.
'As every one knows there was an
Increase in railroad wages in 1916
by governmental order after the rail-
road brotherhoods had threatened to
strike II their demands were not met
by certain day and our. In response
10 the urgent recommendation OF
President Wilson, the Adamson act
was passed BY Democratic congress
and Mr.. Wilson signed it. using four
different pens which were presented
to the heads OF the four brother
hoods as mementoes of their victory
over the government. Later, under
government operation of the roads,
wages were increased from time to
time, and the scale of compensation
lremained 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 Jaw provides for
certain conferences. appeals, hearings
and formal decisions by board. The
railroads propose a reduction of sal
aries and wages, from top to 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 thee have been adjustments In
other lines of employment and that
large proportion of the railroad
mileage of the country is now oper-
ating at loss.
IF this were question between
the railroad owners and railroad EN-
ployees. alone, the public could af-
ford to sit quiescent and await the
outcome. But the public is the party
to the controversy most vitality affect
ed and terefore. most extensively in
teersted 'Needless. to- remark. te
public is AMI always as been willing
to pay . fair and. edpitble wage and
te.srave the employees work under
proper conditions But. on the 9TH
er hand the. public p ehtitied'to have
wages and working conditions. I'D
iusted If put OF harnons' with wages
and eohdltiehs, 70 .a.het. iihes q SIN.
dustry and ensefnfIse-. Whether The
esppeisaitens Of railroad employees.
IL coptinusd on a,war time PasS, are
out of proportion to wages In Indus
tries that have gone through . read
jusfment. is a question-to be discuss,
ed and m she discussion public opin
ion will be large IT, not a control
IIt. ~" 3, =.
I-No - O.! - %.
THE railway wage increases began
with an arbitrary raise granted in
pursuance Of an act Of congress-: and
not through so called collective bar
gaining. The chosen representatives
of the public authorized the arbitrary
increase without the consent OF the
employers. The employees can hard
| ly justify themselves, therefore. in
complaining at an arbitrary decrease
in corresponding degree without
their consent
THE situation presented is a crit
ical one--one that will not wait In
definitely for remedies. Many of the
railroads are well on the way to re-
celverships il not bankruptcy. The
I