Evening journal., 1922-03-11
RAILROAD EXECUTIVES
DESIRE LOWER RATES

o''hf IL tIlalt lndL ItHluuH us ol
the close economic solidarity
which now links the nations to-
gether and forces us to realize
that we can come back to pre-
war prosperity only through
mutual help and an economic
and political policy deeply
grounded In common sense.
AS a result of the war great
empires have collapsed. wealthy
nations have lost their suprem-
acy in the economic and pollti-
cal world, and their places have
been taken by other nations.
The impoverishment of the
impoverished nations is worse
than II appears The enrich
ment Of others, is. in great part.
only an appearance. They have
been enriched not effectively,
but only potentially. They are
not only unable to recover
quickly their loans. but are al
so unable to dispose OF their ex-~
cess OF goods because OF the
poverty Of their customers. The
fact is that the whole civilized
world-victors. vanquished, and
neutrals-is impoverished. Mil
lions OF men who would have
been. producers and consumers
have been killed or MANNED for
life.
The most important conse-
quence Of the war must, there
fore. be an inevitable reduction
for all the nations. during a
period, of their peoples stand
ard Of living, perhaps even be-
low the pre-war standard. We
are under the necessity OF MAX
ing savings out 4 our present
productions in order to compen-
safe for the assets consumed
without replacement during the
war;
THE wage reductions which the
railroads are now asking are not
primarily for their benefit These
reductions are not for the purpose
OF adding TO the net operating in
come of the railroads. They are
for the purpose Of enabling the rail-
roads TO collect a lesser gross rev
enue from the shipping and con
suming public. while sull remaining
solvent enterprises. financially and
physically in a position TO furnish
adequate transportation.
"The necessity for wage reduc-
tions may be stated very simply
The cost of maintaining and extend
ing the housing facilities. the rail-
way facilities, and the other produc-
tive instruments of our Nationa
life, must be brought within the pos.
sibillty Of a greatly decreased Ma
tional income.
ITO the individual this truth may
be translated into the statement tha
the cost Of living has got to b,
brought down.
THE cost OF living figures ISSUED
by the United States Bureau O
Labor Statistics on February 4. 1922
show that the cost OF living in De
cember. 1921. was almost identica
with the cost OF living Of December
1918. In December. 1921. the cos
of living was 74.3 per cent. abov
the cost OF living Of 1913. In De
lcember. 1918. the cost of living wa
l74.4 per cent. above the cost OF llv
! ing Of 1913. Upon this basis o
fact alone the people OF the Unite,
States would have a right 10 expec
a further substantial reduction fl
the wages OF railroad employees.
"But there are still further con
siderations to be taken into account
The cost OF living today would be IA
less than It Is n It were not for Ger
tain stubborn factors which have re
fused TO accept reductions in lin
with those taken by other factor.
The cost OF food and clothing. 70
instance, was very much less in De
cember. 1921, than It was in Decem
ber, 1918. On the other hand. rer
was approximately 50 per cent. high
er. fuel and light vas approximate
33 per cent. higher and the miscel
aneous Items which enter into tn
cost Of living were approximate
Al per cent higher. If these line
had accepted reductions equal
those accepted by other lines, tn
cost OF living would be only 56.6 pe
/ cent above the cost OF living
( 1913. and not 743 per cent. aboN
that Of 1913. In other words "
would be well on our way back
the cost OF living OF the year 19l
"Our failure to have achieved
lower cost of living is a direct r
Election Of the effort made by organ
lied labor in the building trades.
the mining industry. in the rallroa
industry. and in various other indu
tries. TO escape reductions in wagl
: necessary to make It possible
r carry on the normal amount
r needed operations.
"In their present controversi
, with Nheir employees. the railroad
b have not asked reductions in wag
, which are unreasonable as compa
ed with present living costs. Th'
/ are asking as great reductions
/ can possibly be justified, becau
@ every group and every element
8 our national life must make its co
, tribution. No one group is Q
e titled to say that It is protected fro
s making such a contribution until
81 the sacrifices of others the cont
s button Of the objecting group h
!, ceased 10 be a sacrifice.
! "But we confidently believe tn
d at the end OF the period OF adjui
p ment the real wages OF our employ
4 will be as great or greate- than tn
are today; that the volume Of wo
$ will be larger; that employment W