Evening star., 1916-12-09
HOUSENlVESURG |
.GREATERECON0MY'
Want President to Include
Subject in Living Cost
Investigation.
ITEMS OF WASTE IN HOME

Resolutions urging President Wilson
to probe household economy In his high
cost of living investigation were adopt
ed At a. high cost of living rally of
District housewives, held under the
auspices OF the Housekeepers' Alliance
in the Theodorus Bailey Mye-. Mason
house, at 1906 Goth street northwest,
yesterday.
More constructive policies in homo
management, elimination OF waste. the
substitution Of low priced for high
priced foods and cooperation between
business and home interests as means
OF combating the high cost Of living
were advocated at yesterdays meeting
by Mrs. Flora Mcdonald Thompson,
president of the Housekeepers' ALL
ance. Mrs. Thompson also said a living
wage for workers liz needed in order to
make such moves possible.
800 Housewives Present.
About 800 housewives attended yes
terday's meeting. which was the first
Of a series to be held for the purpose
of promoting a scientific means OF low
ering the cost Of living. Charles i.
corby and DIR. W. G. Bigelow explained
.. the reasons for the advance Of prices
In various commodities.
The increase in the cost Of bread, ao-
cording to Charles I. Corby, is due to
! the fact that during the past two years
the 40 items that enter into the manu-
facture. sale and delivery of bread
have increased 81 per cent. The cost
| of operating q baking plant, he added.
has Increased IS per cent. Mr.. Corby
said that even with an increase in the
price of a loaf of bread and decrease
| In the size of a loaf. bakers are losing
II per cent or their profits OF two
years ago.
part of housekeepera. declaring that he
knows one-third of the bread manufac-
tured is wasted. and a systematic
method of delivery as means OF lower
ing the price Of bread.
Increase in Canned Goods.
DR.. W. G. Bigelow. a food chemist.
| stated that the chief factors causing
the increase in the price of canned
goods is the increase of wages for the
workers in the industry. the small sup
ply of materials to be canned and the
increase in the cost of materials used
in the canning process, such as tin,
solder. paper for laoels and ink
The disappearance of great free graz
ing lands for cows and increase in the
cost Of labor are responsible for the in
, crease of such dairy products as milk.
butter and cheese. according to Ivan
iC Weld. representative of q local dairy
concern. In regard to milk. Mr.. Weld
said that a stoppage of the waste of
bottles would tend to lessen the price
He said that thousands of bottles year
lily find their way to the junk pile
through the carelessness of house
keepers. -,.-.
The expense Of delivery of milk, said
Mr.. Weld. is one Of the biggest ele-
ments In it's cost. He added that the
price. of milk bottles has gone up 20
per- cent in the last five years, as have
oti1er articles. such as caps. labor and
tran spoftafion.
The Housekeepers. Alliance does not
favor a boycott on various rnodities
for which high prices are charged. ae-
cording to Mrs. Thompson. 1t affords
only a temporary relief and creates
false condition, she said.
The next meeting of the series Is to
be held at the Theodorus Bailey Myers
Mason House at 2:30 O'Clock next Fri-
day afternoon. Housekeepers are in
yited to attend