Evening star., 1933-06-30

Universal commendation is given by
the public to the decision to postpone
for year the efforts Of the railroads
to reduce wages. This Is q compromise
which is ranked with other measures
intended to bring about improved eco
nomic conditions in the country and,
especially, to create purchasing power
as q means Of stimulating business. It
Is also felt that q labor struggle at
this time would prove disastrous.
abandonment of wage reduction, "
in the opinion of the Portland Oregon
Journal, "is evidence Of the stabiliza-
ton and improvement toward which
we are headed; an indication that
there are to be more jobs and more
profits" That paper sees in the rail
action certainly that the buying power
of the railroad workers will not be
reduced" The Connelisville Courier
believes that ANY wage reduction, such
as the rail executives had proposed,
would have been out of line with the
Governments efforts to increase pur-
chasing power as the basis for pros
PCllGy lCSlNdi llc bOulotll1C
Journal advises that "the Roosevelt
chance to prove their eficacy," and
that IF matters do not improve suf-
ficiently by year from now to justify
continuance of the present reduced
wage scale. 1t will be time to consider
more drastic measures"
"A general strike or lockout. with
its potentialities of growing bitterness
and prolonged paralysis Of industry
and business. would have been a ma
tional calamity" says the Spokane
Spokesman-Review, while the Newark
Evening News declares that. "Ill-timed,
in the light of a definitely improving
economic outlook, the railway wage
reduction move was made on the eve
OF revolutionary changes to be brought
about by new Federal railroad legisla-
tion." The Goshen News Times sug-
gests that wage reductions are de-
cidedly denationary and every effort Of
the administration has been in the
opposite direction"
The settlement" in the judgment Of
the Chicago Daily News. "is important
to other interests than the railroads.
The recently enacted railroad a:,per-
mits far-reaching experiment ~ the
co-ordinating of operating facilities.
Upon the economies effected and, the
lower rates thus made possible rests to
large extent the success Of the roads
in recapturing their old predominance
in the field of transportation. Thanks
to Mr.. Eastmans Intervention, the ex-
pertinent may now proceed without fear
ti ot strikes and other vntoward Interrupt
With the railroads Of the country
and their employees now linked with the
efforts Of the Government to bring
about recovery from the stagnation in
business" according to the Altoona Mir
ror, each has demonstrated that busi-
ness recovery should come first anc
wage disputes afterward. II this coun-
try is going to stage q comeback-ant
we are optimistic enough to believe that
1t Wilt will be through cooperation
OF all interests. The railroads and their
employees have set fine example to all
others in this respect. Realizing that
1t would be difficult task to begin CO.
ordination with the railroads and their
employees at odds over q wage dispute,
the Governments new co-ordinator, set
up under the national recovery act, was
quick to bring the matter before the
two organizations and effected an
amicable agreement that will give him
plenty Of time to put the new act into
operation"
ANY serious wage controversy would
be unfortunate" thinks the Lowell Eve
ming Leader, while the Danbury News
Times holds that recovery must be
sought In the restoration Of relation
ships" and "the United States is not
walking an uncharted path merely that
railroads may grab more than their
share" The Rockford Register Repub-
lie feels that "the amicable spirit which
prevailed gives promise that . pesma-