The Greeley tribune., 1911-09-28
MAYOR SPEER OF DENVER
TALKS TURKEY TO BEET
and SPUD men AT FAIR

which gives no individual or comoi-
nation more than legitimate proht-
The things which all must nave
should be supplied at the lowest
t, possible cost
The propriety of a city depends
more upon the cost OF living, thah
upon the rate OF taxation. or the
form of government. These are
mere incidentals which fade into IN
Significance when you touch the
real heartstrings OF a city NE.
THE daily expenditures are what
count in your life and mine. Freight
rates affect the cost OF living, put
in no way compare with the com oil
nations which restrain trade, ana hA
the price of commodities without
regard to supply or demand. The
city which will start out and say
that the necessities of life sold
within its limits shall not be at
higher cost than is paid the pro-
ducer. plus fair profit for hand
ling, will become leader among the
municipalities OF this country. and
cause prosperity to smile there as
nowhere else.
A producer OF life's necessities is
entitled to a fair profit, the men
who handle and distribute them to
the people should make fair per
cent, but then the consumer is en-
titled to buy at that price, without
a profit being added for a combina-
ton, to limit the production, keep
up the prices irrespective OF demand
yes; even to permit things to de-
rafhdr fhan a hrp1E in
prices. | know party who raises
Bermuda onions in Texas, and who
contracted for his entire output to
combination at low price, which
combination dumped his entire crop
on the plains and allowed it to de-
cay, rather than have a marker over
stocked and a reduction in the sell
ing price. / do not think that we
home to find similar cases. Cities
tions to exist are not doing their
duty.
The selling price Of all the nee
essities, such as meat, fruits, flour,
water, coal, ETC.. should be investi-
gated and reported upon. Where
business is fairly conducted, as in
many c-.ses will be found, such lines
of business should be encouraged
and supported; but where the profits
are unreasonable, a demand should
be made Tor reduction, and ii il
is not granted. city or state IS
justified in going into that business
and furnishing the things complain
ed OF, at price which only includes
cost and a tair profit.
In my opinion results can be more
quickly and more surely brought
about by competition. than by Iegis-
lation. Let me give you an illus
tratiOn AS to what mean The
Sakeries in an European city formed
a com binatiOn and raised the price
OF bread to a point which gave them
more than a reasonable profit. The
city authorities demanded a reduc-
ton, still allowing fair profit on
the business. which was refused,
and within 50 days the municipality
was operating bakery and selling
bread at price they requested the
bakers to make. In a short time
that price was established; then the
city did not want to enlarge its busi-
ness, or take trade away from its
citizens, but simply ran along as a
friendly competitor, paying a fair
profit to the city on the investment
made, and remaining in a position
to protect its citizens in the future
They have not only done this as to
bread, but to all other necessities OF
life where combination has asked
unreasonable profits. The remedy
applied abroad can be put into effect
here, and should receive careful
consideration If We cannot get relief
in any other way. Some time ago
We had potato trust and there was
a great difference between the price
paid the producer and the price paid
by the consumer. The combinations
made the money. neither the pro-
ducer nor the retailer got it. II the
city of Denver had gone into the Do
tato business at that time, opened
up the auditorium as a potato mar.
ket, the combination would have
been broken up long before it was
and at loss which would have
been lesson for the future. Some
combinations now in existence need
that kind of treatment. No city OIL
state would have to go into more
than one or two lines of business
before requests for reasonable prices
| "Oulu Uc ueaTQ ana needed,
l understand that a ton of sugar
beets costing IS makes about 200
pounds of sugar. which is now sold
for about SIS. Seven dollars would
cover the entire cost, making the
company over 100 per cent profit
We are told that the price of sugar
is high because there is shortage
in other countries. We canno,
blame corporation, or any indiyid.
ual, for getting all they can fol
what they have for sale; but we
can, and We should, blame a city OF
state which does not prevent extor
tion from its people, if it has the
power to do so.
Sugar produced in Colorado from
Colorado beets should be sold her,
at cost plus a fair profit. The price,
abroad should not affect the price,
here, unless it has affected the cos
of producing it here. A failure IL
b