Norwich bulletin., 1919-08-09

Washington. Aug. S. President Wilson laid several specific proposals before congress today for checking the high cost of living. but at the same time declared permanent results could E-ot be expected until peace time bases were fully restored by ratification of the peace treaty.
 High prices. the president told con Sresss were not justified by shortage Of supply, either present or proSpec- tive. but were created in many cases --aruhcially and deliberately" by vicious practices Retailers. he said, sWere responsible. in large part. for eNtortlonate prices
 Strikes, the president warned the labor world. would only make matters worse, and those who sought to em- pioy threats or coercion were s only preparing their own destruction" Leaders of organized labor. the presi- dent said. he was sure would presently yield 10 second sober thought
 Illegal and -criminaI' were the words the president used in character izing the methods by which some pres ent day prices have been brought about.
 Present laws, he said, would be en- ergeticaliy employed to the limit to force out food hoards. and meet the situation so far as possible. but to supplement the existing statutes he specifically urged enactment of new laws
 President Wilson's message to con- gross embodying recomme mendations de- signed to reduce the cost of living
 Gentlemen of the Congress: I have sought this opportunity to address you because it is clearly my duty to call your attention to the present cost of living and to urge upon you with all the persuasive force of which I am capable the legislative measures which Eoul abe most effective in controlling 1T and bringing it down.
 High Prices Not Justified.
 The prices the people of this-country are paying for every thing that it is necessary for them to use in order to live are not Justified by a shortage in supply. either present or prospective. and are in many eases artificially and deliberately created by vicious prac tices which ought immediately to be checked by law.
 Methods Are Illegal.
 They constitute a burden upon us which is the more unbearaDle because we know that it is wilfuily imposed by those who have the power. and that it can by vigorous public action be great ly frightened and made 10 square with the actual conditions of supply and demand. Some of the methods by which these prices are produced are already Illegal, some of them criminal, and those who employ them will be energetically proceeded against, but others have not yet been brought un- der the law. and should be dealt with at once by legislation.
 Vicious Cycle at Work.
 need not recite the particulars of this critical matter: the prices de- nanded and paid a t the sources of supply at the factory, in the food 1 markets. at the shops, in the restau- rants and hotels. alike in the city and in the village. They are familiar to you. They are the talk of every do rnestic circle and of every group of casual acquaintances even. It is matter of familiar knowledge. also, that a process has set in which is like Iy. unless something is done. to push prices and rents and the whole cost of living higher and vet higher. in vicious cycle to which there is no log iCal or natural end.
 Wage Increases Overcome.
 With the increase in the prices of the uecessaries of life come demands for increases in wages-demands which are justified if there be no other means of enabling men to live. Upon the increase of wages there follows close an increase in the price of the products whose producers have been accorded the increase-not a propor- tionate increase. for the manufacturer does not content himself with that. l but an increase considerably greater than the added wage cost and for | which the added wage cost is often | times hardly more than an excuse.
 Strikes Make Matters Worse. The laborers who do not get an in | crease in pay when they demand it are | likely to strike and the strike only | makes matters worse. It checks pro- l duction. It affects the railways. it | prevents distribution and stops the | markets so that there is presently | nothing to buy, and there is another | excessive addition to prices resulting 1 from the scarcity.
 Must Have Legal Remedies. These are facts and forces with l which we have become only too fan1i1- | far: but we are not justified because 1 of our familiarity with them, or be- l cause of any hasty and shallow con- | clusion that they are natural and inevitable in sitting inactively by and | letting them work their fatal results if there is anything that we can do to | check correct or reverse them. l have sought this opportunity to inform the congress what the executive is doing | bv way of remedy and control and to | suggest where effective legal remedies are lacking and may be supplied.
 Peace Only Complete Remedy.
 We must, think, frankly admit that there is no complete immediate rem .dv 10 be had from legislation and ex- ecutfve action. The free processes of .-uppIr and demand will not operate of 4hernselves and no legislative or ex- ecutfve action can force them into full and natural operation until there is nsace. There is now neither peace nor what unnerVing fears and haunting doubts who can adequately say?-I waiting to know when it cOmes-a peace in which each nation shall make shift for itself as it can- or peace buttressed and supported by the will and concert of the nations that have