Salt Lake Tribune | 1919-10-30 | Page 8 | Wage Debate Replies Given

MCE DEBUTE REPLIES Gil The public utilities commission of Utah, which has been invited with other organizations organ-izations to hold a conference on the wage schedule of employees of the Utah Light & Traction company, has objected to being be-ing Included in the proceedings. The Salt Lake Rotary club and the Salt Lake Federation Fed-eration of Labor have answered tho invitation in-vitation of the street car men's union to take part In a conference to consider the request of the workers that they be given an increase in wages, William M. Knerr of the state industrial commission said yesterdav. Otto E. Asbrldge, in behalf of the Salt Lake Federation of Labor, said in his letter let-ter tliat the organization would be glad to comply with the request. j Lewis I-T. Harding, secretary of the Rotary club, said that body would con- slder a representation if other organizations organiza-tions have accepted the invitation to attend at-tend the meeting. t ! The reply of the public utilities commission, com-mission, signed by its secretary, Thomas K. Banning, came yesterday, and was as follows: "Your letter of October 17, inclosing a, copy of communication to you signed by j James H. Lamont and others of a committee com-mittee representing employees of the Utah Light & Traction company, has received re-ceived the consideration of this commission. commis-sion. This commission, as you know, is empowered to fix rates and service rendered ren-dered by tho various utilities of the state. It is not empowered to act on matters respecting re-specting wages of employees of utilities. "This commission feels that it should remain free to consider questions brought before it aa is contemplated under the law, and could not consistently commit itself as a commission upon questions where increases In wages going to make up operating costs would later come before be-fore the commission. "There is already competent authority to deal with questions of wages, and for that reason this commission suggests that whatever action Is found desirable be taken without its participation." j Tho reply of the Rotary club was signed by L. H. Harding, secretary, and says in part: "If the invitation is generally accepted by other organizations' and commissions named in your letter, we would consider a representation, but we do not care to do so unless others have accepted the invitation; in-vitation; in other words, we do not care to bo alone in the matter. Can you advise ad-vise what action has been taken by others?"