The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1919-12-11
MORE POLITICAL"
ECONOMY

1t takes the politicians to lower
the cost OF living by establishing
codes Of business conduct that will
lessen the expenditure required to
supply public requirements. These
wise solons who spend a year and a
day mulling over the settlement of
issues whose disposition is essential
to the restoration OF the normal oper
alton of production and distribution
without arriving anywhere, who are
responsible for the expenditure of
millions and billions of dollars with
out imposing restrictions or main
tanning safeguards against dissipa-
ton through Incompetence and plum
der, and then employ a follow up''
system OF Investigations to discover
who got away with the coin, are pro
life in the development OF schemes
that will save consumers money. in
order that they may have enough to
pay taxes. The spectacle of senator's
and congressman promulgating plans
whereby the people may secure the
products that are essential to exist
ence at less than obtains under q
competitive system of doing business
Is too painful to be humorous. Prac.
teal experience adequately demon
strates the fact that the cost is In
variably increased wherever govern
ment interference with the workings
OF business is a factor OF moment in
its conduct. Government operation is
infinitely more expensive than cor
porate management. An Illuminating
object lesson is to be found in the
case OF the railways Whatever argu-
meht may be advanced in favor of
the continuation of such a system,
finds AN effective counter in the
showing OF increased expenditure to
produce the same results. In COM
parative statement OF costs because
practical railway men who perform
the actual work are supervised by a
host OF supernumeraries, who have
no knowledge OF the business, and
no excuse for finding place on the
payroll except political pull.
1t is natural and wise to regard
with suspicion the many devices
sought to be employed for lowering
the price OF commodities coming from
such source. A specific instance is
found in the bills now before Con-
gress to compel merchants to mark
the goods sold by them with the pur-
chase, as we'll as the selling price.
There are q numbe rof measures of
similar import, and they are occa-
sioning much discussion in the trade.
Merchants are protesting AZ the
unfairness. as well as the Ineffective
ness OF such law. II would serve
to place the merchant in a false po-
sition with his trade, because there
is a vast difference between the ac-
tual delivered cost OF merchandise.
the price which the retailer pays the
manufacturer or jobber. and the di
vergence would undoubtedly cause
many customers who are unfamiliar
with the cost OF doing business to be-
lieve that an exhorbitant profit"
was being exacted when as a matter
OF fact the dealer was little better
than breaking even, even after max
ing deductions for salaries, rent, in
surance, taxes, interest on investment
credit losses, spoilage, and the many
elements OF expense attached to the
service rendered by the merchant to
his patrons. II such law were to
be actually put into effect 1t is but
common justice that the cost OF dis
tributi6n should be reflected in the
purchase price quoted on the selling
tag. This would eliminate the ele-
ment OF justice. but it would not In
crease the utility OF such a system
of regulations. for its primary effects
would be to add another and appre-
ciable expense for labels, and detail