Show 1 1 I TEXT OF PRESIDENT I WILSONS WILSON'S STATEMENT ON WAGES V Aug 26 The The text of President Wilsons Wilson's statement on the tho wage question fol follows A situation has arisen in connection I with the administration of the railways rail rall- ways was which is of such general significance significance cance that I think it my duty to make statement concerning it in a a public order that the whole country may know krow what is involved The railroad have demanded demand demand- Increase in wages They arenow are arenow arenow ed a large now receiving 58 63 and 68 cents per hour The They demand 85 cents per hour This This This' demand has been given careful and serious serious consideration by the board which was constituted by the railroad administration to adjust questions of wages ages a board consisting of an equal I representatives of of number ot of and and ot of of the opening operating managers of ot the railroad companies comPanies' board has been unable to come cometo cometo This to an agreement and it has h therefore devolved upon the director of Railroads and myself to act upon the merits of the case COMPARISON UNFAIR The urge that they are entitled entitled entitled en en- titled to higher wages because of the higher wages for the present received by men doing similar work in shipyards yards and arsenals as well as in inI ina ina navy I a number of ot private industries but I II concur with the director general In InI I th thinking that there is no real basis of I comparison between the settled employment employment em em- afforded mechanics by bv the railroads under living conditions as s various various va va- ya- ya rious riou as the locations and ana surroundIngs surroundings surround surround- ings of the railway shops themselves and the fluctuating employment af afforded afforded at- at forded In industries exceptionally and temporarily stimulated by the war and located almost without exception in In Industrial industrIal in- in centers where the cost of living living living liv liv- ing Is highest The substantial argument which the urge Is the very serious Increase in increase increase In- In crease In the cost of ot living This Isa is isa isa a very potent argument Indeed But Dut the fact tact is that the cost o of ot living has las certainly reached 11 its 3 peak peal and will probably be lowered by the efforts which are now everywhere being concerted con con- and carried out It Jt will certainly be lowered as soo soon con I as t there ther rr are settled conditions of production pro pro- d n and o of commerce that is so en as Is the he he Of pat of pea peace peate is ratified and in operation and merchants manufacturers manu manufacturers man man- I farmers s miners miners' a all l u have a I 1 certain basis of ot calculation as to what their business will be and the conditions conditions con con- I will be under which it must be 1 conducted I The demands of the therefore therefore therefore there there- fore and all similar demands are in effect this That we make increases in m wages which are likely to be permanent permanent perma perma- permanent nent in order to meet a temporary situation situation situation sit sit- which will last nobody can tell how long but in all probability only for a limited time Increases in wages moreover certainly result in still further further further fur fur- ther increasing the costs of ot living and we wo should only have to go through the same process again And substantial substantial increases s in wages In leading lines of industry at this time tune w would uld utterly crush the general campaign camPaign cam cam- which the government is waging with energy vigor and substantial hope lof of success to reduce the high cost of living And the increases In the cost of transportation which would necessarily result from increases in the wages of railway would more have and more immediately that effect than any other enhanced wage vage costs RIGID ECONOMIES Only by keeping the cost of ot production tion on its present level by increasing production and by rigid economy and saving on the part of the people can we hope for lal laige ge decreases in the me burdensome which now flOW cost of ot living weighs us down The director genera general genera of ot railroads and andI I have felt that a peculiar responsibility determining determining determining deter deter- ity rests upon us because In mining this question we are now flOW not studying the balance sheets of ot corpo cOrPO- cOrPOrations effect determining de- de e- e rations in merely we are the burden of taxation which hj must fall upon the people of the country country coun coun- try In general We Ve are acting not for the private of or the me name corporations but In the and must government and the public assess our responsibility accordingly For it is neither wise nor feasible to in wages of take care of increases railroad at this time peace has come and normal conditions return There TherEl Is s no certain basis therefore for calculating what the In increases or ot freight t rates should be and f It ft Is n necessary essa es- es sa say sary for the time being at any rate I to take care of all an increases in the wages of railway through I appropriations from the public treasury treasur DELAY D MANDS In such circumstances it seems clear to me and I believe will seem clear to every thoughtful American Including IncludIng including ing the themselves when they have taken second thought and to all wage earners of every ery kind that we ought to postpone questions of this sort until normal conditions come again and we have the opportunity for certain calculations as to the relation between ages Nages and the cost of living It is the duty of every citizen of ot the country to insist upon a truce In such contests until intelligent settlements can be made and made by peaceful and effective common counsel I appeal appeal ap ap- up- up peal to my fellow citizens of every employment employment employment em- em em em- to cooperate in insisting upon and maintaining such a truce and to cooperate also in sustaining the government government gov gov- I in what I conceive to be the only course which conscientious public servants can pursue I Demands unwisely made and passionately passionately pas pus Insisted upon at this time menace the peace and prosperity of the country as al nothing else could and ana I thus contribute to bring about the very results which such demands are InI Intended in intended In- In tended to remedy ONE CLAIM RECOGNIZED I There is however one claim made by the railway which ought to be met They claim that they are I not enjoying the same advantages the theother theother theother other railway are enjoying I because their wages are calculated I upon a different basis I The wages of other railway are based upon the rule that they are I to receive for Cor eight hours' hours work the same pay they received for the longer work day that was the usual standard I of the prewar period I This claim is I am told well found found- founded I ed and I concur in the conclusion of the director general that the I ought to be given n the additional 4 41 cents an hour which the readjustment asked for will Justify There are arc certain I tam tain other adjustments also pointed d dout out In the report of the director general general general gen gen- eral which ought in fairness to be made and which will be made Let me add also that the position which the government must in conscience conscience con con- science take against general increases In wage levels while the present ex exceptional cx- cx and temporary circumstances I eX exist will wilt of course not preclude the railroad administration from giving prompt and careful consideration to I any claims that may be made by other classes of for readjustments believed to be proper to secure impartial j treatment for all all' who work j In t te e railway service 1 |