The sun., 1919-05-26
WHO PAYS THE rRErcHri
Story Of the salaried Man and thu
High Cost Of Living Of Others.


High Cost Of Living Of Others.
To THE EDITOR OF THE suN--Str. Last
night a Salaried Man sat in the train
on his way home from work Something
had occurred yesterday that pleased him
very much. He showed II in his face.
He was a salesman in a big store and
belonged to that industrious and conser-
vative part OF our population known as
the mercantile and once class. that IL
Clerks. Bookkeepers. stenographers. su-
perintendents, Managers and other ON
divided by an imaginary line from the
so-called wage earning class. namely,
mechanics. lsborers, &C.
He was reading OF the wonderful in
crease in the savings bank deposits of
the wage earners. This reminded him
that his deposit had decreased.
II occurred to him that he had paid
for the very newspaper in his hand 100
per cent. Increase over the price Of hve
years ago which was his contribution to
the Increased cost Of paper and printing.
In the other hand he held a railroad
ticket for which he had paid at greatly
increased rate which was his contribu-
ton to cover the high cost OF living OF
the Conductor who took the ticket and OF
the Engineer who started and stopped
the train.
From the train boy he bought an al
mond bar for his little son. for which he
paid an increase Of 40 per can't. the
same being his contribution to protect
the reasonable prolts Of the Candy Bust
ness
Outside, the telegraph poles were fly
| ing by that carried the wires over which
he had just sent a message at q heavy
increase In the rate; which was his con-
tribution 30 the high cost Of amusing Mr.
Burleson Of Texas.
On the seat lay his hat. for which he
had paid an increased cost OF 100 per
cent. and his spring overcoat for which
he had paid an increase of 40 per cent !:
which was his contribution 70 protect
the reasonable profits Of the wool grow
or, tho woollen mill. the wholesaler. the
tobber. the various hauiers of the msr-
chandise and the merchant who sold the
goods.
When he got OF the train he looked at
his four dollar shoes for which he had
paid 20. and he gave the Greek who
shined them SO per cent extra; all OF
which was to protect the profits Of all
concerned but himself.
| Jauntily swinging o dollar emergency
umbrella, for which he had pal. So to
help pay the high cost of living In the
umbrella trade, he dropped a forgotten
letter his wife had given him into the
letter box with n stamp on II which had
cost him so per cent moro than before
the war.
| On the top Of the Court House ne saw
the Blind Goddess holding the scales
Arm and level, which reminded him that
he was now obliged to pay two income
ltaxes-a new contribution from him for
the Cost Of State.
At the sight Of his homo he remem-
bered that his rent had been increased
$50 per cent because Of tho increased cost
of living Of his neighbor, the landlord.
Across the street he saw tho Member
Of the Union to whom he had paid IS
q day for mendins the pipes he had al
flowed to freeze last winter; half Of
which sum was his contribution to the
high cost Of living Of said mechanic.
He sat down to = meal nearly every
item Of which had cost him q heavy in
crease over pre-war prices. which was
contributed by him to cover the living
cost and to maintain the profits Of those
who deal in food. Even the milk his
boy was drinking cost him an advance
Of 100 per cent.
Looking over the home and family. he
could md no article of use that had not
greatly increased In cost From the coal
in the cellar to the toys in the attic,
all had exacted a toll from him for the
high cost Of living of some one else.
And with knowing smile he said to
Friend Wife: Looks like / am digging
up all the time for the high cost of other
peoples living and nobody is digging VI
for mine-but It Is going to be different
from now on
Then he looked over the mail which
had come to his home during the day
which included requests for urgently
needed cash for the Boy Scouts the La
dies Guild. the War Workers Society
the Nelghborhood House, the Salvation
Army, the Morningside Hospital. the
Community Employment Society. the Ar
me MAN Relief. the Memorial window
the Banquet to the Returned Soldiers
and for the increase in the pastors sal
larry because OF the high cost of pastortns
What do you mean. Tt is going to b
different now" asked his wife.
I'VE arc all right now" replied the
lSalaried Man: "our direct daily cost Of
living-not to mention clothing. taxes
etc-has increased about 60 per cent
To meet this my salary. like that Of
many other lucky ones, has been In.
creased Z per cent"
isn't that nicer" said she. We car
give the SO per cent differences to thess