Milford chronicle., 1947-01-03

10 WORK at lhc order OF one man, that they
can again walk out at the order of one man.
lhlS great nation, in effect, is existing on the
Sufferance of one man.
1t is mSnomer to describe the present
day coal strikes as strikes against the mine
operators. They are strikes against the
American people. The last coal strike was
aimed straight at every home in America
every job in America-every business in
America.
The return Of the miners to work has not
changed a situation which Judge Goldsbor-
Ough put effectively into words in his dec-
sion, when he said: "lf action of this kind
could be successful, it could overthrow the
government" 1t could, in short, do what
Germany and Japan were unable to do in
the greatest wal of all time.
Furthermore, as one of the most prom-
nent Senators said, the obligation of Con-
greSS to overhaul our labor laws and our la
Dor policy has not changed-and it will not
change regardless of the final decisions of
the Federal courts. The duty of the courts
is to say what the law means-the duty of
Congress is to put into the framework of law
the needs and desires of the people, And
there can be no question of public sentiment
when 1000 coal miners place their inter-
eStS above the interests of lac, 100000 men,
women and children.
1t is clear now that the Wagner Act has
failed completely in its purpose-the elim-
nation of strikes. 1t must be revised in plin-
clple as well aS.in detail 1t is clear that la
Dor must be forced to assume responsibilities
commensurate with its pOwer-preciSely as
industry, under strict laws, has been forced
to assume such responsibilities. On what
logical grounds can we continue to allow
great unions, with millions of dollars in re-
sources, to operate scot free of laws, passed
III the name of the public interest, which
govern all other enterprises?
The extremists in the labor ranks prattle
of their rights and freedoms, and hystercal-
ly oppose every suggestion that would curb
abuses What these extremists really want
is not freedom, but license. No man, no group
of men, can be ''free" to deliberately force
this nation into industrial stagnaton, wide
spread unemployment, and unimagnable
deStitutiOn
The goal Congress must seek is not puni-
tive treatment of labor 1t is, on the con-
trary, the placing of union labor on basis
of equality before the law instead of eX-
empting it from the laws that apply to in
dustly and all citizens. We must reassert
the authority of the gOVernment-Whichi is
simply the authority of the people All
other domestic problems pale into obscurity
beside this one.
<A~0A~
THE RATE INCREASE granted the ma
tiOn's railroads by the Interstate Commerce
Commission, amounting to about 17.6 per
cent on freight traffic, is vital to the very
existence Of transportation system upon
which the nation depends to the expan-
sion and betterment of that system to meet
the increased demands of the future.
Whether the increase will prove ado
quate can only be decided by operating eX-
perience. But, regardless of that the fact
that the Commission has at last recognized
the plight of the industry, and taken strong
remedial action to give it the increased reve-
nues it so sorely needs, will have a benefi-
cent effect on the entire economy.
The lengthy hearings held by the ICC
were remarkable in that there was almost
no opposition to higher rates for the lines
For example, Il long list of officials of ship
pers groups-representing the industries
which are directly affected by higher rates
testified in favor of the railroads applica-
ton. And it was likewise approved by most
state regulatory officials, who attended the
hearings as interested observers. In short,
the men who understood the railroad prob
lem most thoroughly, knew and said that the
enormous increases in railroad wages and
operating costs must be cOunterbalanced by
an increase in revenues.
Nv
is concerned, the higher rates will make a
very small difference in most retail prices
The decision is of inestimabe value to a COM
pletely essential industry-and it adds fresh
evidence to the economic truth that you can't
increase the cost of everything an industry
buys without permitting increases in the cost
of what it sells
1T NOW SEEMS inevitable that the next
Congress will make q start on lOng-range
program of government economy and tax
revision. Any tax reduction will necessar-
lily be determined by the size of future ma
tiOnal budgets.
1t is very easy to say that we should keep
on soaking the rich and that whatever tax
cuts are made should practically all be in
favor of the worker of small and moderate
means. The ability to pay will always be a
determlnative factor in tax policy. How
ever, eXtOrtiOnate taxes on corporations and
large incomes destroy the very source of
capital which is needed to develop new in