Omaha daily bee., 1917-11-18

granted substantial increase in the brew.
age Of beer to meet harvesting needs. A
similar order was issued last month con-
tinuing the harvest output for three months
as . concession to miners and munitior
workers. All beer brewed is Of reduced
strength, known as light bitter" and sells
over the bars at and pence per imperial
pint.
gigantic housing problem moves to-
ward solution in England. A canvass of
the local authorities of the city of London
and the provinces showed willingness to build
from 100 to 1000 houses each. the number
projected reaching the huge tot.l of 15o, 900
separate dwellings, or about ofie-half the
number required. National and local au-
thorities cooperate in the work of con-
struction and model plans are to be fur
nished by the British Institute Of Architects.
An extraordinary situation has arisen re-
specting government fixed prices for the
sale OF potatoes. Ireland il said to have har-
vested the finest crop of potatoes in half a
century. superb in quality and quantity.
The same is true of Scotland and Wales. As
stimulus for greater production the gov.
ernment fixed a minimum selling price Of
Sc per long ton. Excess production over
loaded the market and the fixed price is
not easily obtainable. Producers are will
ing to sell at a reduced figure but dare not
do so lest they incur the penalty of law
breaking. As consequence appeals have
heen made to the food controller for a rule
permitting farmers to sell to the best ad-
vantage. The excess production is es-
timated at 100000 tons.
British authorities anticipate securing
through the sugar-rationing card index sys-
tenn more complete population census than
any hitherto taken. The sweet tooth is uni
versal Every one wants sugar, and after
the first Of the year they cannot get it with
out card. The card serves another end,
that OF indexing the rnan-power and woman
power of the country. and is expected to re-
veal where the slackers hide.
"Now that the price of footwear is so ex.
cessive," says the London Chronicle, people
are naturally inclined to send old shoes to
be repaired rather than buy a new pair. Un-
fortunately the cost Of repairing advances
almost as swiftly as the cost of new goods.
Inquiries show that at establishments where
the charge for such work was 6s Sd (s1.50)
before the war the present charge Is 9s Cd,
(S2.S0) and it Is argued that the charge is
not extravagant under present conditions"
Profteering In necessaries price-tagged
by the government is expensive and danger
GUS to ones liberty. Courts in dealing with
such cases generally penalize the profiteer
the sum of the excess profits, a punitive |
fine in addition and a term in Jail. At the |
Bigglesdale petty sessions last month JOS |
eph Hall, market gardener, was fined 500 |
on each one Of 81 counts, to which he plead |
guilty, for selling potatoes above the gov
ernment price, last spring. In addition Hall J
was ordered to pay $500 costs, and "sen-
fenced to two months Imprisonment in the |
second division in each case, the sentences |
to run concurrently." Outside Of the con-
trolled necessaries prices run the up
ward scale with the limit of. As an ex-
ample of war profits the London Chronicle
cites the wholesale diapers, seven Of whom
report double and treble their profits In
peace years. Public extravaganza 10 the
cause Of most of the profits. Nor is 1t con-
fined to the metropolis. It prevails in all
communities pulsing with war business. "Ad-
and entreaties to practice thrift"
says the Chronicle, have gone unheeded,
and women, who make up the bulk Of the
customers Of these shops. have not been
able to resist the temptations which higher
incomes and private conditions have placed
in their way