The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-10-30
SUCH AC0URSE
MEANS WRECKlNG
OF INDUSTRIES

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE
able comfort A majority of the
board refused to subscribe tC this
principle.
The maintenance OF way organlza.
ton asked the board to establish
minimum rates OF pay OF as cents an
hour. After "A deadlock lasting sew
eral days the board made public its
decision formally handed down to-
day increasing rates OF pay cents
an hour. adding about S20,00O,OOO
to the railroad pay roll.
MIR. Wharton I'm his dissenting
opinion maintained that the "funda-
mental error" Of the decision rested
upun failure to inquire into ''the
adequacy of rates OF pay estab-
llshcd for section man aud unsHilleu
laborers." He asserted that rates OF
pay IN other Industries of similar
character should be made a second
airy consideration and that the prime
factor to be considered was whether
the rates fixed we're Just and rea-
sonable which, he said. meant an
adequate and living wage under the
terms Of the transportation act.
He maintained that the law OF
supply and demand which operated
in private Industries to fix the price
OF labor should not be taken as a
basis by the LABOR BOARD
He maintained that the living
wage principle was practical assert
ing that added labor costs would be
absorbed I'm large part by increased
efficiency OF the men and by man
agcrial ability
show WhartOn's Error.
Pointing out that Mr.. Wharton
would ignore the provision OF the
transportation act directing the la
hor hoard to consider wages paid In
other Industries of similar nature
in fixing wages. the supporting opin-
ion declared that those responsible
for the decision considered this as
we'll as other factors set forth IN
! the law.
Attacking the budget method OF
determining what should be n Nv
ing wage, the supporting opinion
says:
ticai to undertake TO establish an
arbitrary standard OF living for sew
eral millions OF persons is not ap-
| parent. That the desires and re-
auirements of all men are equal and
/ alike is not correct, and that n
committee OF experts could set up
an average living standard upon
which a wage scale could be practi-
cally based has not been denom-
/ strated anywhere"
THAT the standards of living are
generally improving in this country
| is undoubtedly true" the opinion
said. "and does rot profoundly de-
/ sire improved living conditions Tor
common labor, but II Is our belief
! that this movement must be con-
| tinuod along lines indicated by hui
man experience and that II cannot be
| cousumated in the twinkling Of an
eye by artificial expedients.'
Monkey Wrench I'm Machinery.
Asserting that experts testifyinR
for the maintenance of way organi-
zation admitted that immediate es,
tablishment OF the Giving wage
would throw n monkey wrench into
Industrial machinery" and that the
board therefore make only start
in that direction at present. the opin'
ion said:
"Such a proposition is entirely H.
logical. IL the living wage Is the
lust and reasonable wage author
lied by the statute. 1t is the duty
OF the labor board to establish II
now. IL It is not the Just and rea'
sonable wage commanded by law
then 1t is not the duty of the board
TO adopt II now or hereafter unless
the law be changed"
Adoption of a family Of five witt
one wage Garner as a basis for com
! putting "A living wage also attacked
in the opinion which asserted thai
the last census showed there were
A persons in the average family
but ia dependent children instead
} of the three that experts before th'
board took for basis and that there
were 1886 workers instead OF ont
in the family.
, Commenting upon government
ownership IL the living wage prin
ciple were established, the opinioI
said:
"Of course, for those who deslr'
government ownership this woulS
be n quick method of getting II, foi
IL is a sure thing that the public
would not stand for the imposition
OF higher rates to pay such de
ficit" II asserted that in the las
analysis the public would pay fo