The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1919-08-22
Friday, August 22nd, 1919
PROFITEERING

The great advance in price of
all the necessities of life is well
known to all who have a family
to feed and clothe and all men
who farm, own or rent buildings
that have to be preserved to avoid
delay. We cite one case in each
class that is representative of
many: Sugar, mostly produced
in countries where labor is mex
pensive, formerly was sold at
five cents or less a pound, is now
retailed at eleven cents up.
more than double the price, and
linseed oil, that could be brought
for fifty cents a gallon, is now
sold for So. Is or $3.50, fve-fold
the old price; why the difference
the profteers we'll know, but de-
cline to tell. The complaint alb
out the almost prohibitive prices
now prevailing is heard from all
consumers, particularly from
thoseholding salaried positions
and cannot increase their incomes
and those who have not increas-
ed the charged for work done
and material furnished to the
profiteering point.
The appeal made to the Presi-
dent has been transferred to
Congress, and that body has been
asked to devise some means of
reducing the high cost of living
as the only stable way of solving
the grave economic conditions
now prevailing. Congress has
been so impressed with the ne
cessity of granting the country
relief that it postponed its pro-
posed summer recess. No de-
finite plan has been given publ
city, but Investigations have been
ordered, and the big five" of
Chicago, who are credited with
controlling not only the meat
markets of the country, but a
largesnumber of products that
are necessary for feeding and
clothing the people. If these
were released from bondage and
a fair competition allowed with
the vast supplies known to exist
in America and nearby countries,
it is generally believed prices
will be lowered and stabilized,
business resume its normal
course, and the dollar, now
worth fifty cents, would appreci-
ate to hundred cents in pur-
chasing power that would cor
respondingly reduce in cost of
living one-half and satisfy every
body except the profteers, who
might linger behind prison bars
that would be borne with eQuini-
nifty by long-suffering public.
The Government at Washing
ton is in a measure responsible
for the present unrest in the
country by the "plus profit" sys-
tenn during the war, when con-
tracts were given for the cost of
production plus 10 per cent pro-
fit. Under these contracts the
more the cost of the contract the
larger the ''plus profit" that re-
NAMED in the pocket of the con-
tractor. That the profits on this
were abnormal is evidenced by
the waste and extravaganza of |
the contractors and the excess
i've costs to the Government This
was one of the early stages of |
profteefing and boosting of
prices. The example of the Gov
erment was quickly followed by |
those inclined to profteer and |
had the opportunity believing
they had Government sanction |
for their unlawful and oppres-
sic acts. The excuse was war
time necessity. The war has |
been over nearly six months and |
there has been no abatement in
either waste, extravaganza or
prnfFeering, and nearly all the |
large industries are now under |
the control of the profteers and |
the consumers are the helpless
victims, although until very
recently, unknown to the |
powers in Washington and the
State capitals, none of the
authorities raised hand to help. |
Democrat.