Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-11-14
HIGH PRICES
ARE PREVAILING

Fundamental Cause.-The Working
Day-The Extravaganza of War
and Taxation-More Work and
Less Talk.
The following extracts from vari-
GUS journals published in various
sections of the country throw So
much light upon the real and basic
causes of the present turmoil in the
economic and Industrial world that
we believe they should be oronghs to
the attention of our readers. We
are indebted to "The National Clo-
thier" trade journal of the National
Association of Retail Clothiers; from
which the items herewith are copied:
They appeared originally as editori-
ais in VARIOUS newspapers of Natl
onal reputation
The Working Day
Here is the argument Of the radi-
cal:
Shorten cur hours and it makes
room for more workers; the demand
for more workers will raise the
wage scale; if the wage scale is
raised we can live on what we earn
in fewer hours. therefore,, when we
shorten the hours we have as much
or more money, it makes more Jobs
and we have more leisure.
Sounds rlausible. doesn't? Yet
every time you shorten the hours
vou increase the cost of product
As the price rises, the demand for
1t must necessarily decline, for few
er people can afford to buy it, and
there will be fewer jobs instead of
more.
Shorter hours do not make for
greater wealth. If they did we
would all be rich if we quit work en-
tirely.
Nor is it likely that any material
reduction in the working day under
eight hours would add to the worlds
happiness or contentment The goal
should he working day for every
man that would not exhaust his ply
sical or mental energies and would
leave him ample time for recreation
and self-improvement.
New York Chamber OF Commerce
The Executive Committee of the
Chamber of Commerce of the State
- New York recently gave out a re-
port on the influence of the present
Feweral policy relating to taxation
Of industry on the high cost of liv-
ing.
Proposed money to be raised by
taxation this year is 539 per cent
more than the money raised by taxa
tion in 1914. The committee pro-
poses:
1. That the Federal Government
consider funding, temporarily, so
much as may seem advisable Of the
interest on its loans to its Allies in
the Great War.
2. That the interest payments o.
the funded obligations received by
the Federal Government. in lieu Of
interest on loans to Allies. be treat
ed as sinking fund investments. for
the pavment of our own war debt.
3. That not more than S270L
100000 be raised annually by Federal
taxation.
A. That the revision of taxation
necessary to reduce the annual total
of $2.700, 100000 be accompanied bS
the substitution of taxes tending tC
the elimination Of waste and check
ing of extravaganza. for taxes which
tend TO interfere with the accumula
tion of industrial capital.
5. That a BUDGET system at ono,
be adopted by Congress.
Here are some of the explanation
~
over $21 ,000, 100000 net, and of tina
81 per cent or more than 1000, 900
0n1 have been paid by taxation.
the huge sum lad been assesses
equally o~ families in the Unite
States, Federal taxes alone woul
have increased the average cost C
living TO each family by 1922 40, d"
clear illustration of the largest sin
gle element and influence that ca
be modified so as to reduce the cos
of living"
Secretary Glass estimates FEEDERS
taxes for the year ending June 3
next, at S5200.000.000 a burdtn O
each family in the United States q
$685. FOR Federal taxesl In 191
Federal taxes amounted to less tha
$36 70 a family.
Up to July 1. 1915, ordinary eS
penses of the Government, less ir
terest on debts, never exceeded
time Of peace S702 900 900 per an
rum. "Surely $1,500,O00 900 a yea
or an increase Of more than 100 pc
cent should be ample to cover co;
Of Federal Government. Therefor
n liberal estimate of annual amour
needed for expenses and interest
the immediate future would be So
100000, 900.
America has always demandt
prompt payment of government
debts, and the policy should not
abandoned, but if the Allies pa
their interest that should create
sinkino fund in excess of 2 per cet
for retiring our war debts. The cor
mittees estimate contemplates pc
mitting the Allies to for a time r
fund their interest payments.
"When one considers how great
taxes become magniffed to the ult
mate consumer, the Importance
reducing the secretary's estimate
So 200 100000 to our suggestion
S2.70000O.00 becomes evident"
"Tax revision should not cea
there. A system Of taxation that
an incentive to frugality and intt
feres as little as possible with savi1
should he adopted Waste is the pa
ent Of high prices. Taxes that
duca unnecessary consumption are
antidcte for waste, and ill-timed
xurv. which is identical with was
"A League of Fragality would hi
America greatly at this time a
eve~t a tremendous influence in {
abling production and supply
catch IN with demand and consun
ton with attendant reduction in
cost of living"
Necessity of Getting to Work
Belgium, France and Germany
going back to the bench and wo
shop on the basis of full days W.
for full days nay. They will p
chase raw materials from us;
rope is taking our wheat, pork, c
ton, crude oil. manufactured. !.
at is evident that the Uni
IL 49, faYsn