El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-09-08
ITALIAN STRIKES
CAUSE CONCERN
Government Agencies Fail
to Function When Elmer
gency Arises.

Rome. Italy. sept s.-CCorrespon-
dence Of the Associated Press sim
termittent and sporadic strikes. which
have produced throughout Italy con-
ditions IN some instances approximate
ing bolshevism. in others kind Of
socialism and in still others localized
anarchy. have given Italian political
economists and statesmen new spurs
to study and remedial action
There has been rule without rule
according to foreign observers Inc
government agencies long estanllsned
for the administration OF public AZ
fairs existed. but failed TO function
Municipal authorities, communal Off
Gals and representatives Of the state
admitted they were helpless to deal
with the unusual situations which
rendered inactive the prerogatives OF
those in power. Striking WOrkm IN
forced demands upon a helpless com
mercial class, it Is pointed out. while
the authorities merely looked on in
obedience to the will OF the disturb
ers-"
Prices Arbitrarily Fixed.
The organizations throughout italy
that planned the newest departure in
governmental and economic admins
tratiOn were styled Camera del La
voro- a literal translation would de-
fine them as chambers OF labor. but
province Of labor. as one ordinarily
conceives that province. and extended
so FAR that prices were arbitrarily
fixed and the sale Of commodities or
dsred-
The merchant seems to have been
the one who has suffered most by
the adventure" His stocks were
Communicated by the Camera del La
vOra, II he did not show the dispose
ton 10 sell at the prices fixed by
HaH - amaMa 49,
arbitrary reduction OF fifty per cent
was exacted on all commodities re-
gardless Of the cost Of the goods. the
condition OF the market or the rate Of
foreign exchange or any Of the factors
which determine selling prices There
were examples Of forced reductions as
low as 20 per cent. but these were
few
Rush for Bargains.
The Camera del LaVoro would set
the day on which the new scale OF
prices would take effect Some OF the
merchants refused to open their stores
but there were worse things in readi-
nes Tor them. Those stores opened
were crowded with people anxious to
benefit by the change There never
was SUCH business in any OF the mer-
chant establishments throughout Italy. Z
Every stOrekeeper needed between 10
and 50 soldiers or policemen TO keep
the crowd in order. There was such q
7 -1A Tor bargains LllL. IN many places. I
the situation quickly changed to vio-
lent disorder IN which many innocent
women and chilren were either /
trampled upon or received painful /
handling by the nobs.
IN the case OF food, there was little /
to be done but TO hand the ready /
customers the product for which they i
asked Canned meats could be handed /
out without much trouble. Wine. 1
which is no luxury in Italy, was sold !
At a considerable reduction. one dollar 4
TASKS going N many cases for IS I
cents Wine could be easily handled /
and sold So could vegetables and /
fruits and the usual table products.
But. when il came 10 the distribu-
ton OF clothing and shoes. the real /
trouble began While the clothing es-
adjustments did not receive as much
2 rush as the shoe establishments
they were crowded enough and the
scraIno BE for proper sizes and fittings
vas Veritable catch -as-catch can
me attempts Of the statesmen and the
ialesWomen Of the shops to serve pa
-rohs was failure, and they content
"a themselves merely with receiving
ne small cash payments thas were
made BY the bargain hunters.