New-York tribune., 1917-06-23
Examine Our Officials
Then Perhaps Government Could Do
More for the Governed
70 the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Ding" in his excellent cartoon in
your issue of to-day, says "lf you haven't
given till it hurts, you haven't begun to
give your share"
Now let Ding" read "A Consumers Cry
a letter from William r. Taylor, recently
printed in your columns, and he will see why
even the least of giving hurts" the ordinary
consumer who can earn only average wages
or salary.
We have elected Presidents on platforms
that promised relief from high prices; we
have spent millions for Investigations and
boob" commissioners; We have listened pa
tienty to promises and excuses from inefii-
cent officials-and the prices for food and
fuel have gone merrily skyward
Let those give first who will not be
"hurt'-those who have protted by the high
prices.
Some are badly "hurt' already by going
without beans, meat. potatoes and coal.
Let the next to give be those who are
hurt" by going without lobster, diamonds
and gasolene.
Last fall people here bought potatoes as
low as So cents bushel. Now they are 50.
Nothing short of manipulation and rob-
berry can cause such tremendous increases
as have ruled in the necessities of life
| have circular from the Federal Trade
Commission. 1t is its report 20 the United
States Senate, in which it slings little
sentimental fapdoodle and tells why prices
of coal have been so high and how every
thing is fine and lovely all along the line
now 1t even gives the prices that coal
sells for at the mines, and says to add the
freight and fair profit and presto! you
have coal quickly and at a reasonable price
Well, it may be "hot air" but it surely
isn't coal.
The circular shows how simple and easy
it is to get coal at right prices but the
United States government lets a contract to
supply coal for its Postoffice Building here
for sll.25 ton-btuminous coal, at that.
Anthracite last year cost me S7.55 in my
cellar. Now it is $9.3O-that is, that is the
price quoted, but one can't get it at that.
The Administration demands loyalty and
industrious effort from the people, but does
nothing to deserve such devotion.
While | and thousands of others in this
locality are working eight to ten hours
day at our regular occupations and from
two to four hours extra at gardening, gov
eminent employes-inspectors in the plant
where | am employed-put in about six
hours.
1t is such inconsistent things as these that
take the heart out of patriotic citizen and
there is no relief in sight.
Our Congress bickers and dickers, and in
its sessions presents spectacle of selfish
ness. inefficiency and ignorance that one
would orticise if found at meeting OF Sc
lectmen at some backwoods crossroads.
II is easy to knock. | know. but if Wilson
and his administration want Americans to
Wake Up let them, for Gods sake show
that they have at least one eye open,
Before man or woman can take a gov
ernment position nowadays he or she must
pass an examination, but man TO get into
public office doesn't travel the same route.
What's the matter with having all aspi
rants for important Offices examined? Before
they can become Presidents, Congressman,
Cabinet officers state Assemblymen, etc, let
them pass certain tests for intelligence,
broad mi ndedness and other attributes nee
essary for n man TO possess TO be a law
maker or a leader in fact. Let US eliminate
the freaks, takers. harlequns, hobby-riders
and buffers and get down TO honesty, COM
mon sense and real business.
c. S. HASTINGS.
Middletown, Conn, June II, 1917.