The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-09-16
FIGHT ON HIGH
LIVING WANING
Treasury Official Says Agi-
tatiOn for Reduced Prices.
is Subsiding
VERY LITTLE RESULT
HAS BEEN PRODUCED
Thinks the Savings Division of the
Treasury Department Should Take
Up the Fight Permanent Results
From a National Organization.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16.-William
Mather Lewis, director of the savings
division of the treasury department. APP
parently thinks that the efforts of the
President, Attorney-General A. Mitchell
Palmer and other officials to reduce the
high cost of living are a mere flash in
the pan, fiivver and mostly stuff Mr.
Lewis, in an official statement. says that
the agitation is rapidly subsiding and
that unless some national organization
steps in, very little result will have
obtained. His own words on the sub
-jeet follow:
''As was to be anticipated, the agi-
tation of the high cost of living prob
lem which so stirred the nation for
few days is now rapidly subsiding Tn
less some national organization makes
| it its business to keep the matter be-
| fore the public very little result will
have been obtained by the recent ex-
element
1t is no secret that Attorney General
| Palmer and other officials have done
! what they consider their best to keep
the matter before the public and to get
| results. Every move in the campaign
has been given to the public to keep up
| interest.
| Mr. Lewis meant his statement for
| the savings campaign, as it was sent to
the twelve district directors of savings.
He continued:
| "No organization can connect the mat
| ter more closely with its established
programme than can the savings div
ision of the treasury department, the
three salient points in whose movement
are careful buying, systematic saving
| and intelligent INVESTMENT. Already
many of the 100000 war savings soeie-
ties are waging an active fight against
lprofiteering, extravaganza spending. and
wildcat investment Investigation of
local extortion by merchants, wild eX-
| travagance by buyers of all classes and
promotion of get rich quick schemes is
being quietly carried on. The Connec-
tieut war savings committee, for in
stance, has called the attention of the
people in that state to their reckless
ness in spending money for Injuries
and their disregard for economic vel
fare. Attention has been specifically
called to a representative of a store
; who is reported to have taken go or
J ders for fur coats on 81 week pay
: ment basis from girls who for the mos
: part do not earn over $15 week.
"The savings director in an Indian;
J town reports that the local blacksmith
recently bought ten silk shirts for $lO
each. From Chicago comes information
relative to a Texas pawnbroker wh'
wishes to dispose of war savings stamp
in $1,000 lots at price below the mar
ket These and scores of other report
indicate that the profteer and the ex
travagant buyer are marching along to
; gether to the detriment of the publ
welfare.
D s'On the other hand, the fact tina
: the purchase of war savings stamps in
b creased 20 per cent in August over Jul
indicates that the people are beginnin
: to realize the value of saving as an ar
i tidote for high prices. The continue
h and intensified activity of the distrie
d savings organization will deepen thi
{, realization and bring lasting results t
d the nation +"