Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-21
DENY LAUNDRY TRUST HERE
Men Say Prices Are the Same
as Ten Years Ago.
HOTELS PAYING HIGHER PRICES
Made by Strain says For
merIy the Laundry Did the Hotel
Work at u Loss and Had
TO Change.

Flat denial, accompanied by arguments
is made by the Omaha lsundrymen that an
organization exists among them to main
tain an arbitrary schedule of prices
though many patrons insist that a trust
does exist.
II is pointed out by some Of the larger
patrons, such as the hotels, that within
the last four or five years prices have
gone up nearly 100 per cent for flat work.
This is met with the argument that FORM
erly the laundries did this work at a loss
and that 1t was absolutely necessary to
advance prices to make both ends meet.
There is no denial of the fact that the
Omaha launderers are organized, but they
explain that the purpose OF the association
is to promote friendly feeling. to exchange
credit information, to study methods Of
eievating the standard of the laundry busi-
ness and to improve working conditions.
In this connection an article embraced in
the regulations of the club Is pointed out
by them; 1T shall be contrary to the OBJ
jects of this club for It to arrange any
schedule Of prices for laundry work or
to formulate any rules seeking to regu-
late the business Of the plants which COM
pose this club"
Hotel Prices Go Up.
The hotel managers are among those
who have been most active IN their be-
lief that the Omaha launderies are in a
trust, citing that four or five years ago
flat work was done for about 10 cents
hundred pounds, while at present laun-
dries refuse TO touch such work for less
than rs cents Aside from the argument
OF the launderers that formerly this work
was done at a loss and It was necessary
to advance prices, they are expected by the
hotel men to compete with a local sec
tartan institution, which conducts a laun-
dry, paying nothing for help or taxes.
Concerning the small patronage, which
includes the washing of shirts, collars and
the like, George M. Strain. president Of the
Kimbali laundries says; Our prices are
the same as ten years ago. except in a
few unimportant instances" He then goes
on to explain that while the same prices
have obtained for ten years everything else
has gone up in price: Where we used to
hire labor for IS per cent we are now pay
ing 50 per cent OF our gross business. All
supplies used by laundries have gone up
about 20 per cent during the last four or
five years
''The standard of work is vastly differ
ent now Some OF the laundries are about
cents below us on shirts. Their quality
of work is greatly improved ,and during
the last five and six years they have been
bringing their prices up to the standard.
although there are still some scent shirts
being done in town.
THE laundry business is the only one IN
all these years of high prices that has not
gone up At the same time we are paying
more for everything that We buy-bexes,
tissue and various other trimmings to i'm
prove the quality of the work and to in
sure it's delivery in perfect condition. Yet
we are getting the same prices as ten
years ago. There is absolutely no talk OF
or concerted movement on the part OF the
launderers of Omaha toward combina-
tion on prices. Such changes as have been
made by one or two OF the men have been
due TO changes in the plants and the bring
ing OF them to q standard OF price and
quality Of work which has prevailed for
years in other plants. But this has been
done individually and without any agree
ment, and refers only TO two plants which
make but a few minor changes in their
lists. These changes have been in effect
for some time"