The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-31
SENATE COMMITTEE TO
FIX RESPONSIBILITY FOR
INCREASE OF LIVING COST

AhNiHB deNoted three hearings 10
. wide preliminary survey of the gem
erai questions entering into the high
cost Of living, the Senate District sub.
committee that is conducting the
probe of Washington prices and rents,
this afternoon got down to brass
taekR,
With today's hearing Senator Ball,
chairman of the subcommittee, will
connne the investigation to practical
questions directly affecting the cost
OF commodities in Washington that go
to make up the various expense items
in the family budget. What the com
mittee hopes to md is the cause for
the rising prices of commodities after
they leave the hands Of the producer
until they are tucked away in the
housekeeper'E market basket.
e A. Calvin, an expert representing
the producers. who has had 4 long
practical experience in handling many
kinds Of commodities, will give the
comittee this afternoon practical dem
onstrAtions showing the system of
scales and weights. Senator Ball is
preparing list Of witnesses whom
he intends to call In an ehdeavor to
hx the responsibility for high prices
in Washington,
The producer will be given a chance
TO blame the retailer and the retailer
viii have an opportunity to get
back" at the producer, and the COM
mittee 10 going to look after the In
teFests OF the consumer, IL opinions
expressed by individual Senators may
be taken as the general decision.
Urge Cooperative Markets.
Education of the public to a rsaliEa-
ton of the advantages to be derived
from a cooperative system Of mar
ketinE IL the keynote Of the solution
to the high cost of living In the United
States as advocated by witnesses who
appeared before the subcommittee at
its hearing yesterday afternoon.
Cooperative stores are not needed
so much, according to Charles 4, Ly-
man, secretary OF the National Board
of Farmers Organizations, as a great
national movement, fostsred by Fed
eral legislation, TO make the people of
the country understand the dement's to
be derived from cooperative buying.
Mr.. Lyman said that the co-opeF.
alive system in England affords the
best solution to the living costs which
the committee could consider.
r. NJ. Dawson, one Of the commit
tee representing the National Fedora
tion of Federal Employees, who ap-
peared, told the Senators that there
was great need in Washington of a
chain OF cooperative stores in every
Government department.
POstOfHee Has store.
The Postoffice Department has sue
cessfully operated such a cooperative
store for two years. he said, under
governmental supervision and reEula-
ton, with great advantage TO the en-
ployes who can buy food and articles
at much cheaper rates than they can
obtain elsewhere in the city.
Lieut., Col, Thomas Miller, a former
member Of Congress, who Is assisting
Senator Balls committee, asked il the
National Federation OF Federal EN-
nloyes, which has a membership Of
10000 persons in the District. could
not organize cooperative stores here
along the same line. Mr.. Dawson re-
piled that the federation had not
taken any steps in that direction, but
undoubtedly could II Congress gave
them the authority.
Every Government epRFtm n
should establish cooperative store.
he maintained, with motor trucks
that could go out to the farms and
bring back foodstuffs direct from the
farmers, thereby eliminating the
prohts of the middIeman.
Nothing would do more to stop the
CONSTANT talk OF strike" among Gov
eminent employees, he said. than in
helping them to keep down their liv-
ing expenses. In FeclassifyinG SAL
'ries OF Government employees, MI
Dawson said. additional sums should
BE paid in accordance with the in
'rease OF living costs in Washington
For instance, IL the living cost in
creased per cent an employe draw
ing 1880 should be paid 81 .s9b. thus
enabling the dollar to maintain its
purchasing power.
Would End Salary Disputes.
This would end all salary dis
outes," said Mr.. Dawson. eff that
'ystem were in vogue and the Gov
ernment found that the cost OF Iiv-
ing increased 20 per cent, there would
be some real investigating in short
order. The Government would be out
some money then and it would under
AXE TO see that there is no profiteer-
ing with a view to boosting salaries"
Senator Ball remarked that the re-
classification commission already is
'onsidering the living cost in rsIa-
ion TO salaries.
"ProfteeFing is the real live issue |
.oday," SAID Senator Ball. "The high |
COST of living is regarded by the peo-
lie throughout the country as more |
important than the peace treaty. the |
League of Nations or anything else, |
toT that matter"
"CAn you point out IL US one case |
u profteering In Washington? ask
Cd Senator Ball.
Mr.. Pa%s94 told Of q friend wig