Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-11-20
The Importance of penny Change

lBeing extracts from an address by r.
Mills. before coffee roasters and traf
In plain English. we are all gamblers
forced to become such TO make liv-
ing profit on our years business; and
all simply because Of an established
custom, grown out Of our extravagant
American ideas in our retail system.
whereby a dealer forces his advances or
declines by scent pieces instead OF
pennies. In other words. he is VIC
tim Of an established custom which
forces him not to make penny
change" This works a hardship and
injustice on the manufacturer. the
dealer himself, and the consumer. The
fair minded consumer Is willing to pay
the manufacturer and the retail dis
tr.buter a Just and reasonable profit,
and the only way that all interested
can secure their just due. is by brand
ing this custom as absurd and dis
carding it as such. substituting in Its
place the sane and businesslike method
Of making penny change" over the re-
tail counter.
1t is up to us. to the dealer. and to
the consumer. to get busy on this eco
nomic idea. 1t is up to US particularly
at this time to put he ball in motion
1t is up to the newspapers Of this coun-
try to use their splendid influence to
further and foster penny change.
It is up to us. TO the dealer, and to
the consumer. to get busy on this econ
omic idea. It Is up to us particularly
at this time to put the ball IN motion.
It is up to the newspapers Of this
country to use their splendid influence
to further and foster penny change"
Penny change" must come. whether
or no. The pure food laws will force
II sooner or later-the time is near at
hand when all package goods must be
marked with net weight. The days OF
the even money package sales are num-
bered. and their passing will be good
day for all One great curse OF the
manufacturing business at this time Is
the demand for package goods to sell
at an even figure. and show manufac-
turer and dealer a fair profit. AS an
example-take recleaned package cur
rants-sometimes the sixteen-ounce
carton retails for a dime, then the
| twelve ounce, and again the ten ounce
depending on the market for raw ma
te-iai: making it necessary for the
manufacturer to be prepared with the
! packing material. ct cetera, to meet
| any market condition.
The above is true of spices. and wha'
motif we had penny change" "one
weight" package would be standard
ard it would sell for eight, nine. ten, OF
whatever might be the legitimate price
based on the market for raw material
Take rolled oats-if the price Of raw
material goes up so the large size car
not be sold for % cents at a profit, thu
weight of the package is cut and wae'
the market recedes, usually the add
tional weight which should be given
| is not added; and this is where tn
consumer gets the worst OF it, not onl!
on oats, but on coffee and every othe
package commodity as well. Here asail
would penny change" save the day
and dispense justice as to prices ant
profits.
There is a continual cry going VI
from all over our country agains
trusts, but the lack Of the penn!
change" system is many times more re
sponsible for the additional high cos
OF living than the trusts ever were
some OF our so-called trusts mad
themselves by dishonesty, and the.
should suffer accordingly. incidentally
i I might say that a correction OF GU
state and federal statutes to includ
an Imprisonment penalty instead
mere fine, would work wonders In tn
way OF holding their high-handed oper
ations within the bords of reason. Blu
!. in the majority Of cases. they mad
themselves by economy-they cut gu
the middle man. keeping for themseive
the major portion Of benefit thus Sc
. cured. At the same time. the consun
er has benefited by a reduction in hi
cost price, az this IL part Of the tfua
!, policy, to quiet the clamor Of the me
, who have suffered from the loss q
these positions.
On the other hand, the lack OF th
penny change" custom, Is anythin
but an economic idea. Is is simply tn
outerowth OF our extravagant livinl
Can you Imagine our good German an
|, ENGLISH friends giving the nAwshny
, nickel for a penny paper, and tellin
. hin, TO keep the change? Not much
/ they are too thrifty-they have learne
/, the value Of money: they have lesrre
I | Ia make penny change" and the lesso
they have learned, we must and wi
3 learn sooner or later.
!. Hew would a penny change" syste1
! affect the dealer? Why il 1t that tt
/ business Of so many apparently goo
/, ir..ati merchants finally dwindles dow
. ana n,,t9 Has Il ever occurred to 70