East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-09-22
H. c. |. HITS JAPAN
AND WAGES co UP
BY RALPH II. TURNER

Omitted Press staff Correspondent }
NEW YORK. Sept. 2s.--Out in ia
pan, the time was-and not so long
ago. either-when the foreign resident
could like like food proflteer on an
income that wouldn't maintain parlor,
bedroom and bath in the states"
A clap of the hands speedily brought
forth retinue of servants whose ag-
gregate salary would scarcely supply
Coney Island money for New York
domestic" A monthly rental of $40
to $50 obtained house roomy enough
to accommodate two or three families
of American apartment dwellers. And
the food bill. including afternoon tea
and generous entertaining for the rest
of the colony" would just about
told to-day how high prices have hit
corner grocery in this country.
But now
Japan, like every other civilized
land. has been struck head-on by the
high cost of existing
Roderic C. Penfield, American re-
preventative of the World Salesman,
published in Yokohama. who has just
returned from the Mikado's domain.
told to-day how hogh prices have hit
that country.
Distress in Japan Is all the deeper" ="
Penfield said. land official alarm all
the keener. because of the wide gap
which was spanned when prices jump
ed to the present level almost equall-
ing costs in the United States.
1T is predicted that the high cost
of living will cause even greater trou-
Bile in Japan this fall then occurred
year ago. when the leading cities were
commander 1t at low prices. The
rice shortage already has begun to as
sumo a threatening aspect. There is
scarcely any reserve stock in Korea,
most of it having been. sent to Siberia
to supply the Japanese army.
1.-The Koreans, moreover. have
planted much less rice than usual.
arguing that whatever the size of the
crop. the Japanese government will
commander it at 10 wprices. The
Chinese, also are hesitating to export
rice to Japan, feeling they viii need
it themselves.
'SThe government has prepared
measures against boarding and prof.
reering. but so far they seem to have
had no effect.
Servants who. because of their low
wages. always have offered foreign
residents an advantage over life in
America are now demanding nearly
twice their former pay. Through their
eiuld they are abole to enforce many
% their demands. In one case an
family. because It owned an
was ordered to employ a
man servant instead of a woman. II
was held that if the family could
maintain a motor car. it could afford
TO nay a mans wages.
''House rents have gone up from
one-third to one-half. Coal is about
s1a a ton. kerosene is so cents gallon
and Gasoline is about dollar a gallon.
Custom made silk shirts. which in
the old days were the supreme delight
Of the American tourist at s4 or IS
apiece now cost from 81 to $40.
And rikisha fares-no longer will
a coolie pull you all over town for
half a dollar. Shorter hours higher
nay and lighter loads is the solgan to.
dav of the rikisha mems union
Laundry, according to Penfie1d. is
the only remaining item of cheapness
in Japan.
at was somewhat of jolt" he said
ito learn when I reached San Fran
cisco that must paw 35 cents to have
a silk shirt laundered and rs cents to
for a dress shirt In Japan the stand
ing price was four cents a garment
whether it was cotton undershirt or
a dress shirt with boiled BOSOM"