Arizona republican., 1919-08-21
profiseerins That Does No. Concern U.

The wierdest wall we have yet heard in relation to the high cost of living we have in heart -rending communication to the New York Tri- bune. The writer protesting against what he calls servant profiteering foresees the overthrow of the great American home. He finds that many families, in addition to their other heavy and mounting ex- penses unable to bay the expenses Of their en- tourage Chefs and second chefs, maids and second maids chauffeurs and vaets, buffers and doormen demanding such unreasonably high wages that many New York families have been forced to reduce the number of servtors, thus cutting down household efficiency alarming extent. What is to be- of home life, he asks if this situation is not remeded?
 Outside of certain circles the subject of servant profiteering' likely to create great consterna- ton And in those parts of the circle where the profiteering becomes intoerabe, it is likely improve than to harm home life. Many mothers and daughters will have less time for bridge and other diversions will perforce learn something of the fine art of housekeeping and husbands and sons will learn dress themselves and take care their own automobiles.
 We have almost as little sympathy with the of the rich who are thus feeling the pinch of h. c. L have with the resolution in the house of representatives Tuesday directing an investi- gation of shoe prices The only harm though of such resolution would be to dfvest investigation from . really useful purpose and to that extent to dissipate federal energy in the search for removable of the high cost of living. Such an inquiry would be directed only at the prices of shoes selling at from $14 to $2O pair Prices of shoes costing s5 or ss to s1o would probably be included in the in- quiry and such shoes obtainable almost every where. There is law know of. statutory or of necessity compelling to pay s14 pair of shoes The who has money to pay such prices needs no protection.
 The government in laying the luxury tax on shoes fixed point at which shoes should be con- sidered luxuries. That SIP and we think that fair We also think that the investigation of the high cost of living should not bother with the prices of luxures. The need of doing something to reduce the cost of necessities is urgent that time and effort should not be fooled away anything else.
 One cannot of course buy as good pair of shoes sS or s1O as he used to wear or he may think he cannot, and that is the thing. but he can buy pair of shoes for s1O that will fulfill the pur- pose of shoes they will be better shoes than his grandfather his father could have bought at price, for the lowest priced of the today far better than the best of forty years ago
 Our remarks on the subject of servants and shoes in general way applicable the subject of clothing Dear mems clothes now, can buy suit considering quality style and workmanship for say s25 s3O, better than any he could have bought at any price forty years ago. for then good ready made clothing not obtainable at any price,
 One cannot, it is true, buy as good suit for s25 ssO he bought two three years ago; he would probably have pay $50 s6O for such suit. But again the law of necessity the law of decency does not compel him to pay such a price.
 In these times must bear with many things, fewer servants, and inferior shoes and cloth ing.
 We should of course, like to see all profiteers profteers in luxuries such high priced shoes clothing diamonds and limousines punished a mat ter of principle but not that we may maintain a luxurious style of living. But what first cerned with is the punishment of those who make living at all difficult.