Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-18

doned. The proposal furnishes .
very striking illustration of the
danger Of such arbitrary interfcr-
ence with industry. The Cuban
crop of this year is over 100000
tons and has been disposed Of with
out seriously affecting the beet in
terests. r.
The Charge Disproved H%
We have referred now specifically
to each Of the industries said to be
controlled by groups who "have
doubled and trebled the cost of sus-
tanning human life-of housing,
warming, clothing, and feeding the
American people" in the last twen-
ty-four years. This, not for the
purpose Of political controversy, but
to correct misrepresentation which
if generally believed are likely to
have far-reaching and farmful ef-
fects.
AS to elevator combines, the ele-
vator companies are generally offer.
ing to sell out to the farmer CO.
operatives and the latest activities
of the markets are far from being
Objectionable to the farmers. The
fact is that owing to market IMAM
ipulation," If that is the proper
word for trading in futures, practic-
ally the entire crop Of milling wheat
| produced in this country east Of the
Rocky Mountains last year was mar
keted at prices above an export
basis.
The showing Of savings accom-
plished by improvements in the in
dustries might be extended far be-
yond the particular ones named. Mr..
Gerard Swope, President of the Gem
eral Electric Company, in q recent
address stated that no longer ago
than in 1919 the coal consumption
per kilowatt hour for all central
stations in the United States was
3.2 pounds, and that in 1928 it had
been reduced to "a pounds, an i'm
provement in five years Of 25 per
cent. He added:
When you measure that In zeal Il uesrxs
that in 1929 we saved by increased erIcioTry
of steam generation or electricity in Ave
years the immense amount Of 0,o0o. c5J to-s
Of coal.
This saving means not only the conserve.
ton of our natural resources 70 this extent
but the outstanding Of human effort. includ-
ing the facilities and capital Invested in
transportation and the labor required IN
handling this vast amount of coal.
The generation Of power by cleo
tricity il peculiarly a capitalistic in
dustry. It Is most efficiently con-
Quoted by large units, representing
large sums Of capital, although in
fact the ownership is widely distrib-
uted. In this industry, conducted
almost wholly by large corporations,
the price of service to the public has
increased but slightly if at all since
1918, despite the universal rise Of
costs in that period.
This achievement is more signifi-
cant OF real gains to the waSe-earn-
ing class than wage-increases in
terms Of money which are distrib-
uted back to the wage-workers
themselves in higher living casts.
The General Rise Of Wages.
Bulletin No. 354, relating to the
union scale of wages and hours Of
labor Of nearly 900, 900 union mem
bers in the United States as Of May
ID, 1928, and showing comparison
with preceding years. has recently
been issued by the United States
Department Of Labor.
In the average for all trades tax
en- collectively the hourly wage rate
on May Is, 1923. was higher in the
United States than in any preced-
ing year, being 9 per cent higher
than on May is, 1922; 81 per cent
higher than in 1917; Ill per cent
higher than in 1913; 123 per cent
higher than in 1910; and 1876 per
cent higher than in 1907.
In 1928 the regular hours Of labor
were at the same level as in 1922;
per cent lower than in 1917; 6 per
cent lower than in 1918; Z Der cent
lower than In 1910; and 8 per cent
lower than in 1907.
Sixty-eight per cent Of all the
union members covered had q reg
ular working week of a hours or
less and IS per cent had q 4S.hour
week; 81 per cent Of the bakers had
a 4s-hour week or less; OF per cent
Of the building trades members had
q week Of a. hours or less. rs had
also practically oil Of the granite
and stone workers. Among the
laundry workers 95 per cent had q
4S-hour week. OF the metal trade
members Sc per cent had Q lS-hour
week and 36 per cent had . week Of
"a hours or less. In the book and
job printing trades 80 per cent had
. working week Of a. hours ofAless,
and 10 per cent had lS-hour week.
In the Newspaper trade 80 per cent
were on Q 4e-hour week. Twenty
nine per cent had . working week Of
over ~ and under % hours, and Is
per cent had Q working week Of a
J hours Or less. -------------