The Vashon Island record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1916-1919, 1917-05-24
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THE PEOPLES FORUM
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
H. c. 0. /.

days. And It's not myth It's really
here There's no difference Of opinion
about IT, But there does seem to bc
some difference of opinion as to the
cause Of 1t all. The cause is almost
universally accepted as 'On account OF
the war" And it's true to n large ex-
tent, directly or indirectly. The ''lndi-
rectlyn is what want to talk about a
little.
The war has not caused the H. G. o.
l.. 50 much In itself, as II has furnish
ed excuses and opportunities for the
boosting Of prices Of necessities by
those who in this country control
prices spectators, gamblers and mid
dlcmen.
Take one or two commodities for ex-
ample, as sugar and wheat It's very
hard to see why sugar should be over
double It's ante-bcllum price, since
none of 1t is produced in the war coun-
tries (this not including the U. S. or
South America. as prices were up be-
l
fore these countries entered the war;
The production thereof has not been
curtailed nor the demand increased so
far as can find out. Then why the
advance In price? Simply an opportu-
nifty to use popular cry to make graft
easy.
And wheat. There's no reason for
its present price except speculation.
While the supply is not near as great
as in some former years, there's
enough: there is no particular scarcity
yet The producer, as rule. sold at
from about 10 cents to 81. so per bushel
| But now IT'S more than double 81. 80 to
the consumer. Who is getting the
difference? The same fellows who
have always taken the profits.
It's amusing to read of the frantic
efforts of congressman and senator's re-
| Gently to attract attention to their won
derful fidelity to their constituents by
calling the Chicago gamblers rob
bers,n ''thieves,n ''cut-throats,n and
shouting, "They ought to be hung!'
etc, etc. But they won't hang any of
them. They won't even put Them in
jail or fine them. They may cut out
some of their exclusive privileges, but
every gambler will be given the tip
and time to get from under. That's
the system. From the noise congress
is making about it, after some 40 years
of the same methods in the pit, one is
bound to think some senator's were
caught short recently. However,
let's be thankful if they now take any
action. Better late than never.
But there are matters nearer home
which affect the II. G. o. l.. of dwell
ers in Seattle and Vashon. You noted
last week that most of the Seattle
school teachers, and all the Seattle
municipal employees receiving 1928 per
month or less, have received raise
in wages, or salaries, | should say.
What's that got to do with II. c. o. L.?
Well, it figures out just about S1.00 a
head per year for every man, woman
and child in Seattle. And where does
it come from? Taxes. Who pays tax
es? We have all been doing it, but
from certain murmurings hear, some
of us are going to quit, if we can.
Let the city have the lots to make
garden on. Now many people will ask,
Don't these employees need more
money?n | say, No. | venture the
statement that sl25.00 per month is
more than two out OF three men in Sc
attic draw or earn asincome. But it's
public money. The public can't help
itself. Taxes can and will be made
higher. The levy for 1918 will be
higher than ever before, no doubt.
Then when taxes go up these employees
will need more wages. just like the
Iowa farmer, who raised more corn to
feed more hogs. to buy more land to
raise more corn. ad infnitum.
But, admitting for argument that
these employees need more money and
ought to have it, what then? There
are some 5000 of them. CUT oNE-THIRD
OF THEM OFF THE PAYROLL Can't
do it, Ell? No, 1 know you can't,
They're ander civil service and can't
be fired, won't resign and seldom die.
AND THEY CONTROL LOTS OF VOTES.
So we Just talk
There are several departments whore
less help would be decided improve
ment. They are in each others way.
In the engineering department, for in