The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-10-03
PROf|TEERS FOUND
BY COMMISSIONERS
MONTANA TRADE BOARD De.
NoUNcEs 'euY NOW" pRopA.
cANDA BEING CIRCULATED
NEWS OF THE CAPITAL CITY
Auto Registration Fees Show Marked
Increase Over Figures Of Last
Year.-Counties Of state Pro.
test Truck Rental Rates


Helena.-Denouncing what 1t terms
"buy now" propaganda on
the part Of manufacturers, and affirm.
ing that Investigations conducted in
Montana have disclosed that "exces-
sive aud unreasonable margins of
profit are being charged the consumer,
and in many cases profiteering is be-
ing practiced.' the Montana trade cone
composed Of Chairman Daniel
Boyle, Lee Dennis aud J. f.. McCor-
mick. has made public detailed state
ment showing the percentages Of profit
charged on articles OF clothing and
food in the state.
The commission finds the margin Of
gross profit ranges from "a per cent on
groceries to 81 per cent on IL different
lines of women's clothing and shoes,
50 per cent on mems clothing and
shoes, G. per cent on dry goods, 60 per
cent on children's apparel, and 62 per
cent on bedding.
While of the opinion. from a prelim-
mary investigation, that the greater
part of the increased cost Of living Is
due to the abnormally increased cost
Of raw materials, labor an dmanufac.
turing prices the commission says:
ITO a certain extent, the local job
Der, wholesaler and retailer. in de.
manding excessive margins Of profit,
is also responsible for the present con-
dition.'
The commission disputes the widely
circulated assertions that prices are
certain to rise. This propaganda
shoould be ignored" they say, "as
prices are hound to decline.
Merchants are not entitled. the COM
mission says. to absorb the profits
made from pyramiding abnormal adj
vances on commodities that were pur-
chased when prices were lower. and
the suggestion is made that mercantile
organizations of the state. before the
commission begins it's series Of formal
hearings over the state. should get to-
gether with view of adopting uni
form method of applying a reasonable
margin of profit for all commodities
and lines Of business. Compliance
with this request will materially aid
the commission. "otherwise the com.
mission" says the report. "in making
its further Investigations. will find il
necessary to bring public opinion to
bear upon the matter by publishing
detailed results Of specific investiga.
tons"
Tax Case to High Court.
Attorney General s. G. Ford ha.
carried to the supreme court Of the
state his fight against fellow mem
hers of the state hoard Of equalization
regarding the assessed valuation al
the Montana Power company and sub
sidiary companies.
A writ Of mandate against thu
board was asked which would direc
the board to reopen consideration o.
the company's assessment. The cour
accepted the application and set &c
tober & as the date for hearing argu
ments.
Mr.. Ford was represented in tn,
action by Assistant Attorney Genera
Frank Woody. The state Of Montan,
is named as the relator.
4 4 4
Drug Laws Published.
A 1o-page pamphlet containing foo,
and drug laws Of Montana and rule
and regulations adopted by the stat
board Of health for the enforcement
Of these laws is being distributed b.
H. NJ. Shea. director Of the food an
drug department Of the hoard a
health. 1t may be had upon applica
ton.
The booklet Is complete except tina
It does not contain the food stand
ards" Since the federal government
fixes these and the stntes are mt pei
mitted to change them. the hoard q
health has taken M official actio
upon them other than to- enforce then
The standards may I've found in Bull,
tin TN; by the federal health servic,
State Insurance Superior.
Belief In the superiority If stat
compensation Insurance over that O
fered by private companies Is affirme
by the Sherwood company Of Ores
Falls. a plumbing concern. in a lette
to Chairman 4. T.. Spriggs Of the stat
industrial accident hoard. The con
pany changed to the state plan yea
ago. The letter bases it's conclusion
upon 1.-THE treatment accorded the I,
jured emplOye. the cost Of the insu
nnc.'. and the consideration shown
the employer"
+ r 4
No Compensation for Suicide.
Compensation tn the widow 1T
workman VIII" committed suicide HI
boen denied by the state inluxtri,
accident hoard. The decision ",
wondered in the application 1T Mr.
Prosper st. George. whose husband ",
one 1T the men taken from the PEN
sylvania mine fire in 1916. when :
lives were lost. lie hecame smrly IN
'Queer" and two weeks later took ca