The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-31
EEHOPE FOR
H. c. |. RELIEF
|NPRES|DENT
Congress and White House Get
High Cost Faots-Depart.
ment of Justice Investigates.
BILL PRICE.

~ BILL PRICE.
The overwhelming, impressive facts
rolling In on President Wilson and his
executive heads as well as upon Con-
gress that the cost Of living IL q big
ser question than dozens Of others in
the world put together, held out hope
today to Washington consumers that
there may be erystaIizing the forces
that will eventually bring relief.
Fer whatever statesmen may say
and do about the League OF Nations,
the japanese influence over China,
the Mexican situation, the tariff, the
man in the streets Of Washington and
OF every other American city, will tell
you candidly that IL all means moth
ing TO him compared to the daily de-
mands for more money to supply food,
clothing and shelter for himself and
his family.
In Washington, the Capital Of the
Nation = city largely OF unorganiEed
salary workers, the seriousness of
this cost Of living question is great
er than that OF probably any other
ICED classes, all working for low
salaries. find their expenses 100 per
cent heavier than two and q half
years ago, and their pay envelopes
just a small percentage larger.
Congress has taken years to pass
through one house q bill hxinG IS
per day as q minimum for Govern
ment workers, and this bill, the hope
of Thousands Of human beings In dis
tFesS OF mind II not actually 81 body,
may be delayed indefinitely in the
other house.
Where there are large orEarixa-
tions Of laboring men they have beHn
able to obtain, through their unions,
increases in pay that have partly ret
the increases In cost OF living. The
salary workers Of Washington haze
not been so fortunate. Salaries have
almost stood still while living goes
on up and up. with little reiisf IN.
sight.
Plans In Thia City.
Washington's iegiehs OF salary
workers are today watching every
movement that promises to bring re-
lief They have had their eyes upon
the investigation by the Senate Com
mittee on the District as to costs OF
living here. but the opinion among
them Is that this investigation will be
like hundreds Of others entered upon
by Congress, a nine days wonder, and
then end.
This investigation will reveal prof
lteeFing here as IL would in any city.
Food and rent pirates abound in all
parts of the country. They are be-
coming wealthy from their profits.
but IL anything to be done about It.?
What the public wants Is definite
relief from Congress or elsewhere,
some plan that has constructive state
manship in II and that can not be
by the large class that
is accommodating wealth at expense OF
its fellow human beings who are not
situated to defend or help themselves.
The Department of Justice is
known to be investigating also.
Where and for what purpose officials
do not say. ProfteeFs do not obtain
big profts without more or less I'M
whether they are in the
retail or wholesale business. Right
in this city it is possible easily to
some Of these combinations.
That is one Of the purposes of Sen
ator SheFman's Senate committee. but
that uncovering will be of little
value unless the Department OF Jus
tice proceeds under the antitrust
laws.
Since the aTmistice was signed last
the policy of various
Of the Federal Government
has been to encourage readjustment
and resumption of business and to
interfere with readjustment as little
as possible by legal proceedings un-
der antitrust laws.
Evidence 10 multiplying In the De-
partment Of Justice that the country
Is honeycombed with combination.
more or less Northumberland
might be a better term-by which the
public must joyfully furnish the
prohts that make millionaires or
There are limitations that the De-
pArtment of Justice may be prepar-
ing q surprise for prohteers of many
styles and in many lines OF business,
intending no longer to keep quiet.
What may result from information
furnished the President lately as to
unrest among the people because OF
nigh living costs is not discussed at
the department
Cooperative Buying.
Adherents Of the plan of co-opera-
tive buying and selling. As illustrated
in the meetings which have been TAX
ing place in the District building for
4 number OF evenings, today expressed
the opinion IhRt tney are on the right
track to help those who want to en-
ter into the scheme OF citizens buy
ing and distributing their own sup
plies.
Commissioner Gardiner who has
taken part in this movement, said to-
day that he knows that finances in
yoodly sums have been promised the
promoters and that IL looks as II
there will be no scarcity OF money.
A subcommittee is engaged in draw
ing up plans for q permanent CO.
operative organization. The move
nent has strongest support from en-.
ployes OF the Government, who, near
" all of them underpaid. feel the ne
,essity OF obtaining relief and ars
willing to enter upon experiments ~
these promise aid in reducing the
prices of commodities.