The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-07-23

When the adoption Of the resolution
had been moved and seconded. Council
man TancY took the floor to speak Jon
his reasons for asking for such an in
vestigation. He said that publishers in
Wheeling were recently presented with
a request from the printers union re-
queSting an increase in wages. When
asked why they should be paid higher
scale than the printers Of Pittsburgh.
Mr.. Tancy sara. the printers representa-
tivts replied. and presented statistics to
support their assertions. that the cost
OF living in restaurants and the cost or
other necessities Of life are higher In
Wheeling than in Pittsburgh or any
other city OF a fair comparison in size
within radius Of 400 miles Of Wheel
ing.
Publicity the Weapon.
While the powers OF council are linn
itcd Mr.. Taney said. such an investiga-
tion as he proposed AT least will result
in food Of publicity that will let the
people Of Wheeling know just what Is
wrong and who are reapnS enormous
profits. thereby doing a measure OF
good in bringing about relief for the
working people Of the city. Mr.. Taney
referred TO figures which were revealed
at a meeting Of a committee consider
INK eNlSlOu Ol llC HcdIlH
which show that restaurateurs are re-
ceiving a profit of from $1.04 to $1.oS a
gallcn for milk. while dairy companies.
in spite Of pastcurizing. bottling and
other overhead expenses. are satisfied
with a profit of IS cents and producers
are satisfied with making the original
sale at 30 cents a gallon.
Councilman Ambrose Habig. chairman
OF the committee named to suggest re-
visions in the health ordinance, was
next to speak in favor OF the proposed
investigation. While his figures con-
cerning the profits reaped by restaura-
teurs were eight cents lower than those
Of Mr.. Taney, he. too. was sharp in his
criticism of restaurateurs in exacting.
according to his figures, 96 cents gallon
profit on milk.
Combinations Alleged.
Councilman ". T. Otto. in speaking in
support of the movement, went into de-
tail concerning the Ohio food price in
vcstigation. and charged that combina-
tlorrs are responsible for preventing vast
stores of food and clothing from being
qrown on the market in quantities suf-
tiClent to prevent reduction in prices.
To this phase Of the high cost Of liv-
ing Mr.. Taney replied that council could
do nothing with respect to the general
high prices. but that it can secure deh-
mite information concerning production
costs and profits on articles of food.
etc. produced in Wheeling and vicinity
and let the people know just who is re-
sponsible. He suggested that council.
for instance. II 1t finds that roasting
cars al - cents a dCEen arc selling too
high. il can issue call TO the people
10 refrain from eating corn for a week
or ton days. and that prices as a result
will come down.
Habig"s Views.
Councilman HahIg took the floor again
and submitted list OF current prices TO
show that in spite Of reduction in prices
Of raw materials within recent months
tn" cost of fnishSd products had gone
".
within the past ten days" Habig |
said. canned milk has been advanced |
from 81 10 $50 per case in spite of the |
fact that milk producers are crying for |
Continued on Page Niue.)