Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-07-10
Current Business Conditions
By GEORGE E.


liphtenment all men will come 20
see as a social necessity that the
government must have authority to
maintain the services by which the
common needs OF the community
arc supplied.
The Railroad Strike
These comments apply 10 Tie rs,I-
road strike as well.
The constant assertion OF per-
sonal rights causes men TO lusc Their
balance where their own interests
are concerned, and there Is no
knowing how far they viii 90.
Utterances OF some OF the leaders
among both miners and railroad
men have indicated a belief that i''cy
have only TO tic up the mH.s and
the railroads and wait for l..g O.
truce from the owrcis. They CA'
pect the industries to gradually s.Ht
down. the millions OF warc-catr..s
TO be thrown out Of employment,
the transportation OF food products
to cease. and the population n
masse to be brought to tie verge
OF starvation, and TO actually starye
unless the employers E.yc way.
This policy. ii II is a real policy,
is based upon the assumption that
the government is either iwqC'c7t
or afraid 10 take action IN such ~
emergency as they hope 20 create.
The assumption, however, 80 cart4n
to be disappointed If such l s'n7-
ton ever arises. IL is uncomfortable
that any government, however COM
posed. would fail 20 take action IN
der such conditions. and a govern
mcnt that has been maintaining
great organization TO feed the Starv-
ing people OF Russia is not likely 20
allow its own people 10 starlc or
freeze.
The railroad cases have been dca't
with in the only manner by which
the public ever can attempt 10
adjudicatc such disputes. A CONF
mission was created for the pur-
pose. Its composition is unique for
a judicial body, for it is made up OF
three members named by tho rail-
road employees. three members
named by the railroad companies
and three members named by the
President OF the United States 20
represent the public. OF course.
the latter arc the only members who
can be regarded as occupying a Ju-
dicial position. The others are there
TO give the proceedings something
OF the character Of a conference Of
all parties at interest. When the
three members representing the
public agree. the judicial decision is
practically a unanimous one.
They have agreed in this instance,
holding that it is necessary in tie
interest OF the public that trans
portation costs be reduced, and that
the reductions that have been or
dcred leave the wages affected
higher than for similar work outside
OF the railroad service.
The Ideal Standard Wage
On the ether hand, the dissenting
members OF the commission, Ike
inc attorneys who argued the case
for the employees. set up a vague
standard OF living. which. il applied
to the 100000 families in the
United States would require ex-
penditures more than 50 per cent.
IN excess OF the total national
income.
=, lheir argument seems 10 suppose
liat the wages OF railroad employees
are PAID from some fund not in any
way related to the income OF the
companies or TO payments Of the
PUBIC for transportation services
~ other words. that they present an
abstract question which can be
settled without airy consideration
Tor the people who in fact must
Ultimately pay the bill. When !, is
remembered that the ideal STANDARD
wage which is thus evolved mus, he
paid out Of the earnings OF peopl.
VINO I'VE on very much less. the
appeal on the ground OF Justice lose,
III force. Everybody would like 10
zee the minimum wage raised in all
and il is being raised Nv
~ the improvens in industrial
,neiency, but - arbitrarily SET 10
Ugh standards for favored groups AZ
ne expense OF others IA ~, .o.;,I