Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-08-28

offset TO the reduction OF 1921. and
was evidence Of good fnith on the
part Of the employers. who had
promised the men that as soon az
business warranted II. wages would
hc restored. The settlement of In.
bitumlnous coal strik" on the basis
OF former rates was also taken into
consideration. and a. one steel
president expressed II. II the coal
miners are to obtain war wages for
another year. IL is only fair thai
tn. steel workers should receive
some considerations
Due to Labor Shortage.
There was. however. an economic
factor That was perhaps even more
powerful. Il was tn. scarcity of
labor Whca the reductions were
made. freight rates were 50 high
that IL was impossible FOR the com
pan!es 10 show profit. and with
som" OF them the deficits were
assuming serious proportions. Pro-
duction was curtailed To the point
where men worked only a few hours
4 dag. while many were laid off for
weeks at time. Naturally, they
driftcd away TO other fields, where
there was chance Of employment
ana while IL was realized At the
time that such situation was like
Is 10 rice. there was no help for IT,
The prospect for increased opera
tons through the Cleveland coal
agreement has made 4, imperative
Tor more attractive wage scale
for steel workers, especially as the
higher wages paid ia the building
trades. however, cannot absorb
very large percentage Of TIA" steel
workers. and. In any event are
showing evidences OF being over
done. particularly in the large cities.
Advance Worth while.
A. a general economic propusl-
tiUu. Ia" advauc. L. worth while
IL IS estimated that IL viii mean an
extra distribution Of between $50.
100000 and Si0.0OV,o"G IN wages
which means tust that much in
crease it, purchasing power aud it's
natural reaction upon industry.
wage increases are always dcSir-
able where they bear natural re-
iat!or 10 production costs, and the
advance In steel prices. with the re-
duction in freight rates. has jus
tihed the higher wage scale. which
- 10 become effective on The first
OF the month. The outlook for steel
requirements is such that l9a3 is
likely TO he an active and profitable
year
The ,srff hill having been passed
ny the Senate with sine 300 amend
menis 10 the bill rs received from
the House of Representatives.. where
INC hl!i, under the Constitution. be-
InS a rcvenu" bill. had Ia originate
now goes 10 conference committee
or the TWO houses u wiil probably
axe three or four weeks more To de.
iern!nr upon compromise rates al
though The probability is that most
OF the high rates as passed by the
Senate Will he retained. II will lie
recalled that when the bill original
l. emerged from The Ways and Means
Committee OF tho House, wncra II
mas been in course OF preparation for
months II was passed by the House
with scarcely any debate. In other
words, the House itself merely rati-
fed the work OF the committee
Hence. outside Of the members Of
mat committee. very few OF the
members OF the House Of Represents
tiN"$ have much OF an, idea what is
in the Liil itself. II was understood
that the real discussion would come
on the hoor 90 the Senate, go that the
bins passage through the House was
largely matter OF form.
sees Passage In October.
II has taken more than year Tor
the bill To get as far as il has, but
II is sun likely to be the middle Of
october before IL comes up for final
passage 1t viii not have time 10
have much visible effect before the
elections in November. but there is
already Widespread dissatisfaction
with its high protective features
which will undoubtedly find some
expression at the polls.
With the tariff out of the way. the
Senate has taken up The bonus aud
VIII undoubtedly pass il The cx-
pcctaticn Is that he President viii
Veto IL. The h!ll has been losing in
stead OF gaining ground by the de
lay. ana II does not now seem a. IL
Their" would be votes enough in the
Senate 1" rcpass ii over the veto. 4.
two-thirds vote being required So
Tar as there has been any attempt to
gauge public sentiment. il is about
ON II iifty-tfty basis for and against
The proposition. AS fast as il is real
izcd. however. what tremendous tax
burden Will be placed upon all the
people, either directly or Indirectly.
for no one viii he able TO escape
sentiment turns against it. The de-
bate upon the bill IN the Senate dur
ing the time il rs under discussion
VIII be highly cniightcninH In us
last analysis IL is intended as n vote
eettcr AT the coming elections. re-
CARELESS of its ultimate effect upun
the welfare OF the country at large.