The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-12-22

y
forts to hold eco
James Byrnes nomics within the
inflationary line,
and he would have left the govern
ment, had it been broken, in such a
way as to invite general rising
level of wages now.
This inside of the matter natural
ly was not made public, nor was
any genuine thorough understanding
OF exactly what the government did
give the unions.
Within the decision was the
core Of new policy to increase
wage rates, industry by indus
try, gradually over a period Of
months, without formally aban-
dOning the current economic
front, or even c0nfessing fully
what is to be done. The wage
freeze is thus to be thawed in i
spots without breaking the ice.
After steel will come textiles,
which really has better case for a
wage increase than steel, automo-
biles, rubber, etc.
Frankly, the government was
caught in a rather desperate pre-
dicament on this thing. The unions
could not be stalled off much longer.
They presented fair case for some
kind of increase, based on price
advances, although they did not ex-
pect to get as much as they asked
(17 cents an hour.)
Imitation Critical.
On the other hand, every dollar
given them complicates the infia-
tionary problem which already is
more critical than anyone here will
admit (the shortage of goods continu-
ously forcing prices up through gov
eminent ceilings as can be seen, for
example, in the $20-a-cord local
price for inferior wood that brought
81 cord before the war;
Every additional dollar in circula-
ton will encourage payment of high
er prices, black markets, underline
counter dealing and every device to
defeat the government war pur-
ROSc VI ilOIUlilS Tic llllGs
The administration took the
same way out it used on for
mer occasions. The labor board
ordered Redistribution of work.
ers to increase their pay with
out changing the scale, vacations
with pay, shift preferentials, etc.
BY the device of Redistribution
alone it could grant nearly any wage
increase desired, especially to the
least skilled, lower grade workers.
I know of one company which had
the money and wanted to raise
wages 10 cents an hour, but was
refused permission under the wage
freezing order. That company went
through its employee list, group by
group, reclassifying grade c work.
ers as Grade B, and so on, until it
had upgraded, ingraded and re-
departmentalized everyone and Civ
en- them the 10 cent increase. 1t was
all within the law, and the basic
wage rate was not changed.
Rates Uncertain.
How much the steel men will get,
nobody knows. Published accounts
of the decision said to cents, but
this is Washington estimate. The
steel companies themselves do not
know.
Days afterward, their economists
had not even worked out probable
cost, because many Of the conces-
sions in relation to vacations, ETC.,
were left to future negotiation be-
tween the companies and the unions.
Judge the union did not fare bad
ly, as CLIO president Phil Murray
praised the decision.
What we do know now clearly,
however, is that the unions have
found out what the game Is here.
They know now how to get their in
creases, and are pressing along that
line.
In general, authorities here think
they have compromised the situa-
ton very well thus far, but everyone
recognizes the danger on that front.
Openly the big record-making
companies (CBS and RCA) threw
up their hands and granted Petrillo
of the musicians union bounty up
to five cents each on the sale Of
every record for no good reason ex-
cept that the government had failed
to bring Petrillo to terms In long
strike.
The musicians do not need the
money and Petrillo has only prom
ised he win expend 1t to further tho
appreciation of music. The public.
of course, will pay it, as usual. A
wave of strikes and greatly in
.~aa ead x.,a "a don, audc ora avraoofad