Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-06-17
LABOR BOARD

The voting already is under way in
seven unions
a dissenting opinion, protesting
against any reduction, was included
in the decision. 1t was signed by Ar
thur O. Wharton and Albert Phillips,
both labor members. w. l.. McAlen-
linen, the third member, is in the
cast on an investigation trip for the
board.
Definite recognition of a Giving
wage" and saving wage" was made
for the first time by the board in to-
days decision. Although abnormal
post war conditions were pointed out
as distractions to fixing any scientific
living or saving wage at present, the
i board declared that as soon as this
! condition cleared away it would give
increased consideration to all the in
tricate details incident to the scion
tltic adjustment" of such a wage.
Figures in the decision showed that
I clerks will receive, under the new
scale, an average of SIS cents an hour
compared with 34.5 cents in December
1917 when the government took over
the railroads.
The firemen and oilers receive an
| increase to 49.6 cents. THAT tine car
riers shall have a fair opportunity TO
profit by the revival of business in
ofder that they may expand their ia
cllities is absolutely Indispensable to
their efficient service to the American
public" the decision said
Their unpreraredness now to cope
with any greatly increased traffic is
notorious. Every facility of railway
transportation has been skimped for
the last several years and. as to mile
age, there has been an actual decrease
instead of an increase
This statement must not be miscon-
strued TO mean taht the EMPLOYEES
should be called upon to bear the cost
OF railway rehabilitation, improved
service and reduced rates 1t simply
means that it is only patriotic com
mon sense and justice that every citi-
zen. including the railway employe.
should cooperate in a cordial spirit.
should bear ard forbear until the car
rlers are back on their feet
when this accomplishment is safely
under way il VIII then be possible for
the railroad labor board to give in
creased consideration to all intricate
details.
In this connection il should be
said that the labor board has never
adopted the theory that human labor
is commodity to be bought and sold
upon market and, consequently, to re
reduced TO Stagnation wages during
periods of depression and uncmploy-
mcnt. On the other hand. it is idle
to contend THAI labor can be complete
ly freed from the economic laws
which likewise affect the earnings of
capital.
IT also must he remembered that
carriers are at liberty to pay to any
class of employees higher wage than
that fixed by this board whenever the
so-called labor market compels, pro-
Vidcd, as the act states that such
wage docs not result in increased
rates to the public"
Tie dissenting opinion took the mo-
jority TO task for the cut and de-
clared there could be no question that
very great pressure had been brought
to bear on the board from different
sources, making it difficult to consid-
er the case on its merits" The net
effect was to read into the transpor-
tation act new bases probably never
contemplated" BY the trainers the
opinion said.
The majority's injunction to the
employees to lear and forbcar until
the carriers are back o their feet"
brought retort that they might en-
sid r the sta e'nynt an ul> ina tun that
Justice to them and their families
must await complete satisfaction to
ownership