Evening star., 1919-10-05

Entered as second-class mail matter at the
post ONCE at Washington. D. O.
Price REIMBURSEMENT Justice.
Price readjustment is a problem un-
der most earnest consideration by
every thinking American today. It
Ii patent to all that existing condi-
tions, the aftermath Of wartime ex-
travagances, cannot be endured as a
permanent proposition. The problem
thus becomes one of whether the re-
adjustment shall be up or down;
whether the effort shall be to return
to the American dollar the purchasing
power it enjoyed in pre-war days or
30 to readjust the scale Of wages and
prices that every one may meet the
increased cost of living with a pro-
portionately increased number of
dollars for spending.
There are people, fortunately
greatly in the minority, but still in
sufficient numbers to render their
opinion far fromsneghgible. who hold
that the idea of trying to get prices
back to the old level is Objectionable.
They base their opinion upon their
dread of contention and strife in
volved in price cutting, or upon
the theory that such q course
would be all to capitals gain
and labor's loss. They advocate the
acceptance Of the new order-every-
body jachng up his prices or wages
100 per cent, and then proceeding as
before.
The iniquity of such . proceeding
either escapes its proponents or else
is dismissed by them with smile of
more or less pleased anticipation For
its iniquity lies in its obvious in
equity. It cannot be done with even
8 semblance Of Justice II contem-
plates the whnanssle exploitation of
the saving, thrifty and constructive
elements of society; the savings bank
depositor, the retired farmer OF bust
ness man, the life insurance policy
holder, the owners of railroad bonds
and stocks and Of the securities of
other public utilities, school teachers,
public employees, clergymen, ETC..
xhose pay is not readily changed. It
= Q regrettable but an assured fact
that the advocates of upward read
5ustment are drawn not from the
Above indicated classes, but from
those who glimpse . gamblers op-
portunity Of getting bit more than
their old share in the shake-up.
s. As matters stand today the read
justment effort seems to be wasted
through the inability Of the nation to
come to q definite conclusion as to
just what it wants. We are, unhap-
PLY, experiencing the process Of
Simultaneous ~readjustment" upward
and downward. While well directed
md honest effort is made to reduce
the prices Of the necessaries Of life,
4oreeful and determined steps are
taken to adjust wages to meet war
time living conditions. Assuming that
sQuity is in the hearts of true Ameri-
cans, it is difficult to see the sense in
this national tug of war.
= It may we'll be admitted that labor
may not in fairness be required to
fsturn to i'll pre.var status, that the
condition IN which it existed then re-
quired sams upward readjustment.
But pending the hour when Q dollar
nay purchase approximately . pro
Wax dollars worth Of neessssxies,
s~ tus American, to whom justice
mnst Inevitably sppeal, should seek
and demand the eonsummstion Of
downward readjustment even st the
expense Of temporary cost to himself.
Whan that hour shah have been At
tanned. justice will never deny him
who lent his effort in Is behalf.