Evening star., 1943-11-20
Rail Labor Protest

VII Vic OppoolIe page VI toudy
Star there is published a letter from
B. M. Jewell, chairman of the fifteen
cooperating railway labor organi-
cations, which takes exception to an
editorial published in these columns
on November H.
Mr. Jewell contends that the edi-
torial was based on three miscon-
ceptions: Cd That the Truman reso-
luton expressing congressional ap-
proval of an eight-cents- hour
wage increase for incorporating rail-
road workers makes an exception of
railway labor; 20 that Sterilization
Director Vinson has ordered rigid
application of the Is per cent Little
Steel formula to railroads, and, 90
that labor generally has been denied
any wage increase greater than Is
per cent above the 1941 level. The
editorial was not based on the as
sumptions set out in points GU and
go, nor was there any misconcep-
ton concerning them. Regrettabfy,
however, the editorial contained
language from which Mr.. Jewell
might reasonably have drawn such
inferences. With respect to the first
point, it was contended that Con-
gress, by passing the Truman reso-
luton, would be making an eXcep-
ton in the case of railway labor.
This was based on the fact that the
Truman proposal is without prece-
dent. Mr. Jewell disagrees. Mr..
Vinson, judging from his subsequent
statements, evidently shares The
Stars view.
A reading of Mr.. JEWELS letter.
however, indicates that his principal
point has to do with the merits of
the wage increase sought by the
incorporating employees, and there
can be no doubt that there is much
to support his position in this re-
spect. At time when other wages
were rising rapidly-even being en-
couraged to rise by governmental
policy-the railroad workers were
subject to the restraints of the Rail-
way Labor Act. Figuratively speak
ing, they were left at the post when
the race for higher wages began, and
if nothing more were involved their
case for the wage increase that they
want would be clear.
Judge Vinson has held that the
eight-cent general increase would
violate the Little Steel formula. He
was not talking about the Is per
cent limitation, because both the
eight-cent proposal and the gradu-
ated increases that he has said
he would approve 60 beyond Is per
cent. 1t is not easy to follow his
reasoning in disallowing the one and
approving the other, since the total
amounts involved do not differ
greatly, but he apparently felt that
the graduated plan would come
within the exception permitted for
the correction of substandard living
conditions. His reasoning may not
be sound, and his conclusion may be
| wrong. But the real question is
whether Congress. having left the
job of stabilizing wages to the ad-
ministration in the first instance,
should now step into the picture in
behalf of the railroad workers for
the purpose of inducing Judge Vim
son to reverse his decision in their
case. If this is done, what will be
the position of Congress when some
other union, which may also be able
to show that it's members are preju-
diced by comparative wage inequi-
ties, comes along with a demand for
higher pay? If we are to have wage
stabilization, it seems clear that
Congress. instead of taking hand
in individual cases, should either
leave the job to the administration
or should enact legislation setting
up a comprehensive and balanced
wage stabilization program of its
own.