New Britain herald., 1922-02-15
C0UN. HART MAKES lITH HOUR APPEAL
Asks Support Of Councilmen for
 10 Per Cent. Cut Movement

Members of the common council received communication today from Councilman Howard S. Hart, asking that they support him In his move ment to cut the salaries and wages of city officials and employees. 10 per cent. Action will be taken at to- nights meeting of the council,
 Cuts and Tariff.
 The councilman explains in his message that such economy through out the country and a fair protective tariff are the stepping stones by which the nation can return to nor malcy. The communication follows: Il Up to this writing. 6l6 replies have been received to my letter on salary reductions, of which 579 have approved of same; 26 have been op- posed and Il are of divided opinion sent ont 2,Al5 inquiries, of which no were unbelievable. The count has been verified and may be de- pended upon for accuracy. Ninety four per cent. approve of salary re- auctions and decreased appropria- tions,
 City should Lead.
 q have advertised the fact that un- signed opinions on this question would be reported and few such have been received. 1t seems fair to conclude that those who have not re- piled have no special interest in the matter either way; no friends in the employ of the city or little taxes to pay, if any. The almost unanimous opinion of those interested indicates. think, q general feeling throughout the city by serious minded. thought full citizens that it is time to curtail city salaries, wages and expenditures of all kinds It does not seem to me that New Britain should be a blind follower of other cities throughout the state. We have been leaders in many ways and it is before us now to take a leading step in municipal affairs. step that has already been taken by others in the direction of deflation of war time costs.
 ''The restoration of normal prices for everything everywhere, is goal almost as important for our future well being as was the winning of the war. Unfortunately, we are going about this task, not with the patriot ism of the war but with seltishness that is blind to our own best good If all clung to war time profits, sal aries and wages, there would be no decrease in the cost of anything The costs of all the products of this country would be so high as to pro- hibit exports to other countries and leave us in easy and high price mar ket and imports from other countries. Excessive imports of goods made by other countries would of course cut down the production of such goods here and create unemployment.
 'It is clear then, it seems to me, that all costs must be lowered and this means reduced profit, salaries and wages, not by an unfortunate few but by all of us, including employees of the city.
 Readjustment Period.
 We are in a world wide period of readiustment, due to the war. It seems to me that this country will not enjoy a return to general pros nerity until all profits, salaries and wages have been reduced to that point at which the products of this country can be sold here and abroad at as low price as at other couh- tries. On this basis, with a fair tariff. we can hold our own against fair imports and successfully compete for the business of the world If l am right, it behooves us to make our adjustments of profits, salaries and wages promptly, that we may the sooner restore prosperous conditions.
 "The products of agriculture are close to pre-war figures. but freight rates add greatly to the cost of get ting farm products to market, For this we have to blame railroad labor largely for its resistance to wage re- auctions.
 Many of the products of manufac- ture have dropped greatly. due to the decreased profit and cost of labor in such industries.
 Coal is high largely because of high wages to miners and high freight rates.
 "Buildine costs are still high, hold ing back building operations, .Thls too is largely matter of high labor costs. We of New Britain depend largely on building activity to con- sume our products.
 Labor Halting Business.
 "The fact that lower prices are necessary and expected, brings about a halting tendency to all business, and only when all classes of labor have been readiusted downward to com petitive level with other countries will we be sure of a return to full em- n]oyment and reasonable living costs American labor has always been more efficient and therefore better paid than the labor in other countries.
 investigation of the Hart X Cooley company's business would reveal that we practice what we preach. It be- came evident to us some ume ago that we must cut the costs of our product and reduce our selling prices or do very small business with short hours of employment. We have waived our profit, cut our costs Tn every possible way and have been successful in getting business enough to run full time with 8 full force of men. People will buy if they find prices are low enough.
 "A small part of our costs IS our local tax. No item of cost is too small to ignore. Therefore. when l observe a tendency to hold to war lime salaries and wages for city em- nloyes and increased appropriations cover same I have q natural teeilne that the city of New Britain and us employes are not doing their share Tn getting readjusted to new conditions.