Show LIKENS REDUCED WAGE AGES TO BANKRUPTCY Head of Railroad i Declares Failure of Healthful Living Standard Standard Standard Stan Stan- dard Means Disaster I WORKERS ALREADY I DEPRIVED OF NEEDS I Labor Leader Says Wages Are Not Money but Poun Pounds Pound s of Lifes Life's Blood to Nourish Body of People i CHICAGO March 28 By the AssocIated Associated Associated Asso Asso- The PreSs The business concern which h cannot meet its fixed charges charges- Is bankrupt bankrupt to provide a healthful health ful standard of oC living for his family family- a working mans man's fixed charge means charge means eventual physical and moral morat bankruptcy bankrupt cy to the nation This was the I Ion on which B. B M. M Jewell head of the I Ishop shop crafts unions based his plea for fora fori a living wage for the the nations nation's rail workers today before the Ute United States railroad labor board Figures comparing railroad empl yes yes' expenditures for tor food with minimum requirements for bare subsistence as as worked out by Professor M. M t E 1 food specialist of the University of oC California CalifornIa California Cal Cal- I showed that railroad mechanics in 1921 were we're were able to purchase but 64 per cent of the meat fish milk and eggs neceSsary for maintenance of their families at the lowest level levet of ot safety safety safe safe- ty Mr Jewell said wages rather than a 1 further cut were urged on the bo bod bord d by Mr Jewell in his fight against g the 10 per perCent percent cent slash propose propos by roads now before tho the boar board asserted M were th rtha nalon and andred red reduction cU n of wages or-wages wages means reduction of ot otI I nourishment to the bodies lodies of citizens I I LIVI LIVING G WAGE LACKING The railroad Industry does not notto notto- today to- to day pay a living allying wage to the mechanics employed In its shops said we have measured the average monthly earnings of men In the railroad railroad rail rail- road shops by every possible standard stand stand- standard standard ard and in every instance they are found wanting The purchasing power and real railroad railroad railroad rail rail- road families are demonstrated by the analysis of Itemized monthly expense expense expense ex- ex pense accounts They hare distributed ted over the country but In no sense se selected se- se I The statements Include careful careful care care- re- re ful CuI records of food and quantities bought The average Income of oC these families Cam fam am- am amounted to 1935 50 of oC which I came from t other ther than railroad wages being usually secured from boarders The average expenditure was 1989 64 The income from railroad railroad railroad rail rail- road falls short of oC nearly a year ear of oC the actual amount which these families spent With prices prevailing during the he year of or 1921 mechanics In railroad shops were able to purchase about 64 percent per of the meat fish milk and eggs necessary to maintain their aCtual ac actual actual aC- aC families at the lowest level Jevel of oC safety Mr Ir Jewell said They were able he continued to purchase only 77 71 per cent of the necessary cereal food only per 91 cent of oC the necessary necessary vegetables and fruits and only 71 per percent percent percent cent of the necessary butter fats and oils I RAILROADS BANKRUPT I- I The IThe result of such a a deficit in terms of oC the general physique of the country and also In terms of the ef efficient efficient et- et operation of the railroads is Is sufficiently obvious If J an Industry cannot meet Its first fixed charge the payment nt of a n healthful livelihood to Its it Is indeed bankrupt the union lend leader r de declared larell Assuming that of the tho country's country's coun coun- I try's railroad shop men have I families to support Mr Jewell estI- estI m tid that their families suffered a I deficit of or pounds of or meat pounds of or orI fish eggs g s ned and milk flour and cereals pounds of I Cont Continued on In page 2 S JEWELl liKENS l' l Continued from page pago 1 potatoes vegetables and fruits and pounds of butter oils and fats tata during the year Wages ageS are the life Ufo blood of the nation nation na na- na- na I tion Uon continued Mr Jewell They are not money honey they are pounds of life Ute lifeblood lifeblood blood which flows out to nourish the I body of ot tho the people A reduction in wages does not mean a reduction in dollars and cents It means a reduction In pounds of ot nourishment to the bodies of Ot citizens Agencies given giyen power to determine j age levels have no monetary inu They 1 e are aro the chief chic part oi the population There can be only one one consideration It is this Can any of ot the goods that wages will now buy r be taken away without injury to the body and soul of ot the nation Consideration on this basis will lead inevitably to the conclusion that the present budget of or the wage earners cannot be pared down It will lead rather to the conclusion that t the purchasing purchasing pur pur- chasing power of ot tho the of or tho the railroads must Immediately be In In in- creased Advocates of wage reduction must determine what goods which tho the now purchase shall In the future fu future tu- tu ture be bo denied them |