The Columbia evening Missourian., 1922-07-27
For the Least of These.
oua The NeH York Globe,

From the teH York Clobe.
The time has come for congress TO deal
unequivocally with the question OF
living wage on the railroads. Mainie-
nance Of way men and other laborers are
now paid far less than the lowest esii-
mate Of the sum needed TO support a
family at any decent standard. The Rail
road Labor Board has been generally
criticised for its recent order lowering
the wages Of those who already had less
than enough. but the blame properly be-
longs TO congress and to the country.
Congress, through the Esch-Cummins
act. accepted responsibility for the fix.
ing Of railroad wages. The labor board
must take into consideration rules incor-
poraied by congress into the Law. The
first iwo Of these rules are contradictory.
The law says that in determining the
business and reasonsbleness OF such
wages and salaries or working conditions
the board shall. - far as applicable, take
into consideration among other relevant
circumstances:
-Ub The scales Of wages paid for sim
liar kinds Of work in other industries.
~t2l The relation between wages and
the cost Of living"
At a time such as the present. when
the market rate Of wages for common
labor is in many places far less than the
cost Of supporting a family, If Is impos-
sible 10 consider both the market rate
and the family budget. Either one or the
other musi be disregarded. In lis recent
order the labor board disregarded the
ces, Of living.
There we're. for example, according to
the March wage report of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, l64.496 track
and roadway section laborers whose ay-
erage wage for the month was $40. There
were. in addition, 1851 maintenance Of
way laborers whose average pay for the
month was s77. These men are now be-
ing paid five cents an hour less than
they got in March. Their monthly
wages on the March schedule on time
would accordingly be $64 and $o5. Reck-
oned in annual earnings. this would show
l64. .496 laborers at $768 and 1851 at
$3.50. In addition, group Of laborers
50-257 employed around shops |
and engine houses would. according to
the March report, earn s9l6.32 a year at !
the present rates. and others still get
only little more.
The lowest sum estimated TO be neces- |
Sary to support family Of five is the
budget calculated by the National In
5ustrial Conference Board for laborers
in Fall River. The conference board
made this calculation for use by employ |
ers in wage negotiations and it is not
unduly generous Ii is less than any
sums sanctioned by government author
ty. Yet. measured by this smallest avail.
lble budget and that made by and for
Employing interests. the lowest paid rail,
-oad laborer will have S57679 less than
he minimum deemed essential. while
many other thousands are far under the
;cale.
This is an intolerable situation. Speak
ng in general terms in his New York
peech Of May %, 1921, President Hard
ng spoke the mind Of the country when
le said: We must see that the wage
.arner is placed in an economically strong
position. His lowest wages must be
,nough for comfort. enough 10 make his
louse home. enough to insure that the
'truggle for existence shall not crowd
'ut the things truly worth living for.
There must be provision for education.
or recreation. and a margin for saving"
Ii is impracticable, perhaps, TO attempt
o translate Immediately President Hard.
ng's principle into railroad wages. He
las stated the elements Of a budget
which regarded minimum Of comfort as
he proper criterion. The railroad la
'orers, however, would be enormously