Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-03-28
JEWELL OPPOSES
RAIL. EMPLOYEES
PAY REDUCTIONS
Present Principles Of Wage
Adjustments Are Unjust,
Labor Board Is Told at
Chicago Hearing.

Chicago March 27--Character-
izing the present principles Of
wage adjustments as unjust. Il, NJ.
Jewell, president Of the railway
employees department Of the Amer
lea Federation Of labor, told the
railroad labor board today that
costs and wages should remain
constant, even to the elimination
of profits, and hat until that econ
omic basis was accepted. conflict
between capital and labor would
continue.
Mr.. Jewell opened his fight
against general wage reductions
sought by 205 railroads before the
board today. He treated as irrele-
want all carriers arguments of
lower living costs and lower wag-
es in other industries; he asserted
"the so-called law OF supply and
demand will never afford a living
wage in a system organized accord
ing to modern business principle"
and declared for O living wage for
all productive workers Of the coun-
try.
Interest and Profits.
Interest and profits must not
continue while the working man
suffers low wages and unemploy-
ment, Mr.. Jewell asserted, in pre-
senting his theory Of the living
wage.
I'VE have come here to chal-
lenge the justice of the wage rates
nF oT1 VNnn1,raHt,s1 10 g.
lenge the very principal upon
which the railroads propose that
rates Of pay be adjusted" said Mr.
Jewell. I'VE propose to show how
the entire purpose for which in
dustry is operated can and must be
changed,
"The so-called law of supply
and demand will never afford
living wage in n system organized
according to modern business prin-
clples.
"Out of the annual yield of any
industry" Mr. Jewell continued.
three things are being paid, costs
Cincluding supplies, depreciation,
extensions. taxation, etc. } vases
and profits. Two Of these, we say,
ought TO be constant costs (re-
duced to an economical flgure)
and wages at a level which will al
low full human life, inclusive Of art
literature, music, recreation and
sociability such as are enjoyed by
the well to do. This leaves profits
as the sole variable factor and
frankly contemplates situation
in which temporarily they may
have to cease. Until that situation
has been accepted the conflict be-
tween capital and labor viii con-
tinue."
Piled Up a Surplus.
He declared that the railroads,
the steel corporations, equipment
and supply companies had piled up
a surplus of $l,2S7,670,047 in the
war years from 1916 to 1920.
These enormous funds are
guaranteeing profit payment while
the concerns operate to very
small proportion of capacity-in
some instances less than 80 per
cent" Mr.. Jewell said.
The employees argument for the
six shop crafts, which are being
considered separately at present
will cover. Mr.. Jewell said, an ex-
animation of the relation between
railway wages and industry as
whole and the cost of necessities
of a healthy family life, an expo
sition" of the forces fixing wages
in the labor market, a study of the
national income with a,vlew to as
pertaining whether industry can
afford to pay a living wage. and
a forecast of the effect on the
country's prosperity resulting from
payment of living wage.