The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-15
SAYS FIGHT WAVES
ON HIGH LIVING COST
Treasury or ''lcial Declares the
Agitation for Reduction Is
Rapidly Subsiding.
CALLS SAVING ANTIDoTE
Lewis Suggests Results Can
Be Obtained Only by Ma
tional Organization.
Special DESPATCH TO TIE sus.

WASHINGTON, Sept IA. - William
Mather Lewis, director Of the savings
division of the Treasury Department,
apparently thinks that the efforts of the
President, Attorney General A. Mitchell
Palmer and other officials to reduce the
high cost of living are a mere flash In
the pan, a fiivver and mostly stuff. Mr..
Lewis, In an official statement, says that
the agitation is rapidly subsiding and
that unless some national organization
steps In very little result will have been
obtained. His own words on the sub
ject follow:
"As was TO be anticipated, the agita-
ton of the high cost of living problem
which so stirred the nation for few
days is now rapidly subsiding. Unless
some national organization makes 1t its
business to keep the matter before the
public very little result will have been
obtained by the recent excitement"
1t is no secret that Attorney General
Palmer and other officials have done
what they consider their best to keep
the matter before the public and to get
results. Every move in the campaign
has been given to the public to keep up
interest
Mr.. Lewis meant his statement for the
savings campaign, as 1t was sent 10 tne
twelve district directors Of savings. He
continued:
mo organization can connect the mat
ter more closely with its established pro-
gramme than can the Savings Division
Of the Treasury Department, the three
salient points in whose movement are
careful buying, systematic saving and
intelligent investment Already many
of the 100000 war savings societies are
waging an active fight against profteer-
ing, extravagant spending and wildcat
investment Investigation of local ex-
tortion by merchants, wild extravaganza
by buyers of all classes and promotion
Of get rich quick schemes is being quietly
carried on. The Connecticut War Saw
ings Committee. for instance. has called
the attention of the people in that State
to their recklessness in spending money
for luxuries. and their disregard for
economic welfare. Attention has been
specifically called to a representative Of
store who is reported to have taken
$50 orders for fur coats on 81 week
payment basis from girls who for the
most part do not earn over SIS a week.
THE savings director in an Indiana
town reports that the local blacksmith
recently bought ten silk shirts for $40
each. From Chicago comes information
relative to a Texas pawnbroker who
wishes to dispose Of war savings stamps
in $4,000 lots at a price below the mar
ket. These and scores or other reports
indicate that the profteer and the ex-
travagnt buyers are marching along to-
gether to the detriment of the public
welfare.
ION the other hand, the fact that the
purchase of war savings stamps in
creased 20 per cent. august over July
| indicatesnthat the people are beginning
to realize the value of saving as an an
tidote for high prices. The continued
and intensified activity of the district
savings organization will deepen this
realization and bring lasting results to
the nation"