The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-01-05
Congressman HeIgeson Tells
Citizens to Fight Bakers and
Other Commodity Dealers.
SAY COOPERATION WILL WIN
North Dakota Man Declares He
Will Lead Fight on
High Prices.

Do bakers in Washington charge
more for bread than is charged N
Europe, where war prices prevail?
II they do, why have not the people
: formed a boycott against Them or
organized in some way to protect
themselves from this feature OF the
high cost Of living?
The first Of these questions was
answered in the affirmative by Con-
gresham 6enry T. Helgeson, o.
North Dexota, at meeting last night
of the Cathedral Heights Citizens AS
ISOLATION. The last one he pro-
pounded to members Of the associa-
ton, saying that IL was intended for
other citizens of the District to con-
slider. The CONGRESSMAN paid his re-
spects to Washington bakers in no
uncertain terms and said the people
have stood for ''this form Of robbery"
long enough.
Asked Mortgage Exemption
Congressman Helgeson's attack on
Washington bakers and business and
political conditions in general grew
our, Of the discussion of the value Of
OTR40lZeQ i6nOTI 6CCuA Ao'SA
able legislation. The association had
tust adopted a resolution asking that
Congress exempt mortgages on real
estate that is taxed in the District
from the intangible tax against which
numerous citizens associations have
launched attacks in the last few
weeks.
AFTER reading a schedule of prices
vvhich prevails in England Congress
man Helgeson said when there was
taIk, over there of raising the price OF
bread to 10 cents for four pounds
there was q bread riot.
Peopte Here stand For 1t.
Here, the speaker lamented, bakers
can charge as much as they like and
the people stand for it.
He said such a state of affairs re-
suited from no effort on the. part OF
the people to organize themselves
against such imposition from trades
men.
CONGRESSMAN Helgeson advocated
The idea of selecting District Commits
kioners from other States than ones
close to Washington. He said it
would work good for the common
people II Commissioners were Sc
iected for ability and administrative
capacity rather than for political
preference.
Charges Price Ineonsisteney.
( The speaker charged Inconsistency
IN bread prices in the District. He
said some bakers who pay 81 per
barrel for -four sell loayes at cents,
while others who pay only So per bar
rel charge 6 cents for loaves.
I'm going to put the bakers on the
defensive" declared the Congressman,
aas did in the House this afternoon.
81 have attacked the high price of
living in Washington and mean to
continue the tight until prices drop
or some reasonable explanation is
given for their skyward trend.
Scores ComnOdity Sharks.
The people Of Washington. and
other cities in the United States as
we'll, stand for more than the people
Of any other nation. They would not
tolerate such exorbitant prices. Or
EaniZation is the only way to secure
equitable treatment at the hands Of
the many commodity sharks.
shown last year when a band of
men made Congress bow.
Just because they were organized the
railroad employees of the country,
through their spokesman here. made
every politician and public man take
of his hat to them-from the President
Of the United States down to the most
typical ward heller"
Promises Market Campaign.
Congressman Helgeson promised IL he
stayed in Washington this summer he
would fight hard to see to 1t that bet
ter sanitary conditions exist ct city
markets where, he charged. food is
often sold that Is not fit to eat
The association adopted a resolution
irving r. II. Mcneil. chairman Of the
railroad committee. full power to ne
Eotiate for better street car facilities.
President A. N. Read presided. w. w.
Husband was elected A member. Com
mittee reports were made