The daily banner., 1919-07-21
HIGH COST OF
LIVING A MENACE
Continued Increase Regarded
as Grave Issue.
COMPLAIN TO CONGRESSMEN
Southern Grocers Accuse United
States Railroad Chief of Aiding tie
Five Big Paskers.

Washington, July 21-Despite the
Intensity of public interest in the
league of nations fight and in the
state of growing anarchy in Mexico,
which seems to call more and more for
America intervention, there are some
statesmen in Washington who hold
the opinion that the increasing cost
of living in the United States is the
st serious issue which the country
has 10 face.
Correspondence of senator's and con-
gressmen reveals that unrest is in
creasing in all parts of the country
because of soaring prices. The Ma
tional Consumers League, represent
ing thousands of housewives through
out the United States, is petitioninp
congress for definite action to NEE,
the ntolerable conditions. Passage OF
the KenyOn-Anderson bill to regulate
the packing industry has been suggest
ed as one means of coping with the
problem.
The 1908 members of the Southern
Wholesale Grogers' association, Pres
ident J. Fl. McLaren, of Jacksonville,
Fla, announced it will Immediately
proceed against the administration of
Walker D. Hines, as federal director
general of railroads, charging discrim-
inatiOn, which they assert, is enabling
the five big packers to obtain monop-
oily on the distribution of food pro-
ducts in the south.
The wholesale grocers allege that,
as ii result of the packers monopoly.
the cost of living in the south is be-
ing advanced to point which means
actual suffering to the poorer classes
The same complaint against the pack
ers is being made in Washington. To
relieve the situation at the national
capital several carloads of food pro-
ducts purchased from the army are
being brought in here and retailed at
the public market under the direction
of district officials.
Senator Arthur Capper, of Kansas,
sees serious menace to peace and or
der in the eVer-increasing prices Of
the necessities of life.
Senator CappeE in discussing this
question, said:
o.thirdsseof my daily mail has
to do with the subject of profteering.
The problem of prices and profiteer-
ing is the big issue-the biggest issue
before congress. 1t must be grappled
with, because it cannot be evaded nor
neglected.
"More than 14,00O stunted babies
have been recently found in Boston.
These babies are shorter in stature
and lighter in weight than they ought
to be by three years growth. All the
starved children are not In Europe,
it seems
Washington, undoubtedly, is VIC
timized by profteers to an extent not
equalled in any other city. | have
Joined other senator's of the District
of Columbia committee in looking into
the evil here and seeking a remedy. e
You can find the poorer people here
have hard struggle to exist.
"We are told the war price of shoe
is soon to advance 25 to so per cent
per pair. Underwear is to be marked
up 25 to 30 per cent. Hand-me-down
suits of clothes are to sell from $50
TO $50. Coal is to be higher than
ever.
''When the visitor to an engine room
sees the indicator on a steam gauge
on boiler slowly pass the danger
point and keep on going, it makes him
think of hunting place of safety and
departing for it pretty quick.
"Some kind Of bust-up' is going to
come if we let reckless profiteers do
the flring''