Evening star., 1922-09-09
Fixing a Living Wage Presents
nifFicult Task.

The refusal of the Railroad Labor
Board to define just what consti-
tutes a living wage. for the beneft
of the maintenance of way employees
of the nations railroads generally is
accepted by most newspapers as
justified because of the many .eie-
ments which would enter into the
task. However. there is a well partic-
ipated-in suggestion that. II it could
be done. 1t would make for industrial
stability and would act as a prevent
i've Of strikes.
The real issue. the Baltimore Sun
believes. is that labor wants its wage
to be the primary charge on industry.
The other side thinks that profits.
dividends and. interest are the pri-
mary charge" The Newark News also
suggests that. while the fundamental
proposition of fixing a wage standard
may be all right, when the argument
gets down to hourly rates 1t Is not
SO readily acceptable" pointing out
that under the Adamson act the
eight hour law was used actually TO
force a material wage increase with
out changing real hours worked or
hourly rates of pay.
In refusing to act the board in the
opinion of the Pittsburgh Leader:
presents mot uncommon example OF
the extent to which our moral cour-
age has lapsed. The Railroad Board
knows what is a living wage, but
for reasons of its own not plain to
the public denies that it knows.
Either that or 1t dares not consent
to act upon its Information"
THE fact that. because the rail-
roads are privately owned. the higher
cost of the living wage system can
only be met by curtailment OF serv-
ice. or Of expenditures for improve
ments, or by increased freight and pas
senger rates. against which the public
rebels" is the lil-Sly reason for the
board refusing to lax the rate, accord
ing to the Philadelphia Bulletin. while
the Wall Street Journal insists that
Congress and not the Labor Board Is
the only body with authority to take
such action.
The Louisville Post believes that
mo one can define a living wage in
terms that will be permanent or AFFORD
any safe guide for industrial or in
dividual operations" while the Roanoke
World News suggests that the propo-
an opportunity for all parties con-
cerned to jump out Of the frying pan
into the fire" In addition, the New
york Evening World holds ANY time
the railroad unions are wiling to give
guarantees of continuity Of service
they will most certainly be in strong
position to ask favored treatment as
regards wages and working condf-
tons"
In the opinion of the Indianapolis
News 1.-The demand is fair" inasmuch
as "a Just and reasonable wage must
vefy obviously be a living wage. while
q barely living wage may be neither
Post Dispatch also holds that the
principle Of the living wage is rooted
In immutable justice and that ideal
is held by the people, who are the last
authority. They will join the ap-
pellants in demanding that the princi.
Die be adequately upheld In the hnal
settlement Of the ISSUE" :,
cit seems reasonable to believe.
the Boston Christian Science Monitor
adds, that the work of the Labor Board
would be materially expedited and It's
results made more satisfactory to the
general public II 1t determined what
should be living wage IN the . eyes o.
how far the rate paid by either rail-
roads OF coal operators differs from
that standard" This, in part, Is the
view Of the Seattle Times, which also
holds that the establishment OF
basis" upon which the living wage or
the saving wage might be computed
accurately would help in the determi-
nation OF wages in all industries-
that il, II a basis can be found upon
which all, parties at interest Will
agree to naset for the adjudication OF
The EFFORT to define either, the Chi
caxo News IL inclined to think, has
found economists definitions "unfor.
tunately contradicted by facts and
GENERAL experience" In addition. II
a living wage is to be established In
one industry, the Houston Chronicle
believes, It must include all, because
:ff the state IL justified in guaran-
teeinE wages to one class of people,
how can It escape such . guarantee
to alI?" The San Antonio Light holds
that "the living wage depends pretty
much upon the previously conceived
standards, and there are almost as
many standards as people, and the
exuression is correspondingly dfmcut
to define In other words, the
Houston Post holds, unless the
problem were treated fundamentally,
nothinr could be settled definitely
eithor for the maintenance of way
men or anybody else. The American
standard OF living. however. 10 aome-
thinR that needs far.reaching reform.
"a sE,nul, xx,f<h rrnf7f0acv cnrrunffon