The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1921-06-10

VoC wages ~ pei CcAI ny IHc OuLcu
States railway labor board. The new
rates of pay can go into effect on July
l, at which time the contract for the
present national agreement with the
railroad workers expires. This agree
ment includes 1O4 railroad corpora
lions and most of the important rail-
road mileage of the country.
Officials of the railroad unions have
not yet stated their position and that
Of their men on this order. Except
that they do point out how the present
agitation for low wages on railroads
Is part of war against labor unions
directed from the country's financial
center.
Railroad executives had asked de-
crease in wages of 25 per cent and
hence the reduction to IL per cent may
be regarded as an acceptable compro-
mise by the employees, especially so if
they can get other points they are
lighting for in the new agreement to
be drawn up. Hours and conditions
OF labor as well as pay are important
considerations in railroad work.
Consideration of the cost of living
apparently did not have much to do
with the government labor boards de-
cision. A decline in a few commodi-
ties like sugar has been offset largely
by increases in some others, particu--
larly the important item of rent. Rail-
road labor representatives claim that
the cost of living has declined not
more than per cent and that during
the war and up to 1921 wages dragged
behind increases in cost of living.
So much has been said in the last
two years to induce people to believe
that the chief trouble with railroads
was high wages that one good result
Is bound to come from the wage cut if
It is accepted.
While railroad workers will suffer,
the public will learn more of the truth
about private railway management.
The highest estimate of the cost saw
mgs through wage reductions is $780,
100000 year.
The deficit for the past year has
been about twice this sum, with rec
ord freight and passenger rates. The
tinanciers drain away the resources of
the roads for their own benefit and
will continue to do 20.
We shall all know that wages are
not the cause.
SENATE PASSES NAVY BILL
On June the senate passed the
$bOO,OOO, 900 navy budget bin by vote
OF 81 to IL. Aware that the sentiment
OF the country was overwhelmingly
against such huge appropriation q
rollcall to show who voted for the bill
was not permitted.
BUSINESS IN GOVERNMENT
A meeting Of the best financial
minds" was called by President Hard
ing on May 81. In addition to Secre-
tary Mellon, Secretary Hoover and
the president, ]. p. Morgan, Paul
Warburg and half dozen other men
"of great influence and power in finan-
cial circles" were present.
Il appears that such meetings are
10 be held frequently. They are to be
. substitute for the dollar-a-year-man
institution under the Wilson regime.
The dollar-a-year men took posses.
sion Of the government, and the best
financial minds are likely to be NO less
ambitious.
Harding's policy Of business in gov.
efnment rather than government in
business has the full right Of way and
can be judged by results.
=
THE ANGLO-AMERICAN ALI.
ANCE
Speeches Of Colonel Harvey, oul
Ambassador to England, in Londor
and Paris strengthens the impression
that Close alliance between America
and England il rapidly taking shape
With American aid England can 70
place France % the dominating 1ae
Tor n Europe.
Matters Of big business calculation
appear 70 make such an alliance prac
tically inevitable. New York an,
London financial powers have heel
closely connected since the Civil wal
Previous TO the World war Englisl
capitalists had claims to about AZ
billions Of securities and other prom
ofty II this country.
The war wiped out most Of thes
foreign holdings here and left tn
English = debtor to our hnanciers b,
about two billions and to our govern
nsnt BY over four billions. The MOI
gan syndicate did. al the buying 70
England in this country from 1914 I
4 1913 and this tied - up still NOR