Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-25
Fighting High Cost of Living

Nj .W YORK milk producers in cooperation
with butchers and green grocers have
arranged to lower the price Of milk to con-
sumers who are willing to carry it home In
stead OF the 10 cents quart charged for the
grade most generally sold, the price is fixed
at cents The big distributors have met
this new competition by offers to sell the
same grade Of milk at the same price, al
ways provided the consumer will look after
his own deliveries
Herein is displayed one Of the notable
signs of the times. The high cost Of living
under which we all groan and suffer is not
the sole product of the increased wholesale
cost OF commodities Much of the burden is
due to the increased cost OF distribution
Inc middlcman, so frequently and bitterly
eNecrated, performs service which modern
standards and methods have made trcmon-
dously expensive
The market basket Of our fathers time is
becoming legend. Few persons are willing
to carry their purchases home The delivery
system of the prcsentday market or grocery
represents one Of the principal items OF en-
pensc Instead Of making her purchases in
person, the housewife orders by telephone
and the dealer sends what is ordered In
thousands Of cases the cost of delivery is
much larger than the dealers profit on the
p'''ic"lar transaction. OvereXtonSonS of
credit. bad debts, interest on heavy invest
ments in wagons, horses and automobiles all
must he included in the prices that are
charged. Purchasers pay for what they get
and what they get is not merely the article
OF food or wear. but complicated and en-
pcnsive service besides
We undertake to prophesy a revulsion from
TINS artificial system. There will always be
persons who want, and are willing to nav
lor' instantaneous deliveries and protracte;i
credits. hut in the next few years they are.
going to he pb i'm bo
from other persons who have begun to
realize they cannot afford such Injuries
f.ilher there viii be large increases in the
number OF shops which sell for cash ONLY and
deliver not ut all. there will be scDarate
scales OF prices for the cash customer. who
carries away his own purchases. and the
customer who buys on credit and insists ON
thricc-a-day deliveries.
~ few years ago somebody said the high
cost of living in reality was the cost of high
living There is truth in that. because
standards have changed, and the luxury of
yesterday becomes the necessity of to-day but
the real cause goes deeper. The middleman
Is not becoming millionaire SO far as we
who KNOW good many OF him can observe
Ills prices arc high, but they arc rarely
higher than he has to make them i'm order
to keep out OF Bankruptcy He is charging
Tor the service he renders the most unrea-
sohahie oil his customers and, as under exist
ing conditions ii is difficult to maintain two
scales OF prices. everybody. whether reason
able or unreasonable, exacting or unexacting
pays alike
Thero Will he change. The remedy for
ni"ch OF me high cost Of living lies ready TO
lhe hnhd OF the American people, and it will
ID" utilized The demand for less service and
more food already is making itself heard. and
there are plenty Of good business men to
answer il.