The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1922-05-05
CoNCILlAruON BOARD SCORED


| uouuScutut ny Tue Cu"iWuu, vs. tVt
lows:
~ feel that properly you have a
right to representation In our
state legislature. and while you are
casting your vote at the polls. u
YOU will think Of this chairman at
this board. that he Ia confident that
he will and II he can am sure that
he will do whatever he can for you
In this matter"
Reasons Why We Cannot Accept
We regret that the situation can.
not he sufficiently simpiified so that
satisfying the board as TO the line Of
action We should pursue would be all
that is necessary. But We cannot side
| step the competitors who are all
about US and enjoy better producing
advantages than those outlined by the
board.
We find the following faulty con.
clusious In the boards report:
Quoting from the report.
1T comedies the unusual condi-
tions attaching to the pinc,industry
In klamath county. that II operates
under q handicap by virtue OF Its
location with competition calling
for careful and sympathetic CO.
operation by employer and cmploye
alike"
The board. while making this de-
ciaration. simply does so and leaves
tho matter as q statement and does
not attempt to In any way consider II
In arriving at their conclusions. They
having admitted the effect OF com.
petition. fall to take that competition
properly into consideration In deter.
mining what is necessary to over.
come II. .-'.
They eanno, question that the owl
denee vas absolutely conclusive as
regards the fact that our competitors
. run ten hours and pay less wages.
and We believe that this IL the only
basis upon which . finlns should
have been made.
In asfairming . proper wage for
common labor which is the exact
amount for eight hours that many OF
our competitors pay for ten hours,
virtually puts our operations to n dis
advantage with our competitors to
the extent Of approximately 90 per
cent. which would put them In posi-
ton to sell at our cost OF production
and still have a profit.
On top Of this disadvantage, our
competitors enjoy the further advan'
tage Of first. cheaper stumpase BY
800 to S2.50 per thousand, cheaper
freight rates. and closer proximity
to markets for both labor and output.
Again quoting from the report:
Generally employees testified
that II 1economics were necessary
thcy would accept willingly . re-
duction In wages but no increase
in the length OF their working
day" =.
The statement that employees would
take . reduction In wages cannot In
any way be considered as q solution
because q reduction In their pay SUI.
ficient TO put US on an equal basis
with the ten hour plants II We were
operating only eight hours. would be
entirely too low to afford them prop
er living expenses. and II would be alb
solutely impossible for Us TO secure
labor on the cheap wage. and further
from our actual experience. We know
that 10 operations were begun on this
basis. II would DO only . short time
before they would demand higher pay
and We arc looking for . permanent
stable solution.
We feel that the iengthenins Of the
day would least affect the living con-
ditions and social standards OF the
employees. and that 10 one Of our
reasons for fsvoring II. and expert.
euce has absolutely shown US that
men do and will 60 to the longer hour
plants paying the same per hour
which amounts to more per day.
Again quoting from the report:
that the resultant product is
substantially marketed directly 20
and through large fruit growing |
associations Of that state. that the |
Relationship between tho pine In
dustry in Klamath and fruit In:
dustry OF California Ii close and
difficult 70 seGregate."
"a a.. Nn L.