The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-31
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went into a shoe store and was asked
So for a pair OF shoes. He refused.
Then this man went to a friend en-
ployed in a factory that manufactured
the same shoe and was told that he
could get, through his friend, the
same. shoes for IS a pair.
We've all had more than a suspi-
cion that we are being gouged," said
Mr.. Dawson, but each fellow claims
the other is the pirate. In the mean
time the people are being robbed.
Sometimes l wish prices would get so
high here that the people would COM
bine and solve the question for them
selves"
1t was this remark by Mr.. Dawson
that started the arguments in support
OF cooperative buying as the best So
luton Of the problem.
DR.. w. Carson Ryan, chairman Of
the committee representing the Ma
tional Federation of Federal En-
.ployes, said that Congress should con-
Isider constructive measures that
would make possible the recognition
of the cooperative movement
He declared this movement could
not take concrete form in Washington
now because it would require an act
Of Congress to authorize it. The main
advantage in it. he explained, was in
getting the people in the habit of buy
ing economically.
DR.. Ryan said that he could get
thousands Of personal statements
from members of his organization
concerning prices in Washington. He
declared his organization was opposed
to any investigation that was going
to consider the cost of labor in deal
NIT oh
Investigations by the organizations.
he claimed. had proved the cost of
labor" is the cry of every profiteer,
and he assured the committee that il
was by no means the principal factor
involved. DR.. Ryan said that a per-
sonal investigation made by himself
in a New York candy factory showed
that an increase Of 81 a week in
wages for the factory employees
meant only an increase of eighteen
one-hundredths Of cent on a pound
OF the candy.
Mr.. Lyman told the committee he
represented the farmers in a formal
protest against propaganda of a very
dangerous natUre-that is, trying to
fX the blame of high prices unjustly
on the farmers-that the most impera-
tive need was the cooperative system
of marketing and buying such as is
established in England and France.
Tells OF Dependents.
Miss Norma James, who said she
represented $500 women members of
the Union Of Bureau of Engraving
and Printing Employees, told the COM
mittee that 20 per cent of these wom-
en- have dependents.
A majority of the women, Miss
James said, were compelled to work
N ha la NJ
in order to make both ends meet, oW-
ing to the high cost Of food and rents
in Washington. She said they make
from so to 20 cents an hour, which is
considerably more than the Govern
ment pays them.
Benjamin c. Marsh. secretary of the
Farmers National Council, ventured
to tell the committee that the people
of the United States are mulcted ap-
proximately ten billion dollars a year
through the failure of Congress to tax
land values adequately through pri
vate ownership Of natural resources
railroads, the merchant marine and
through our credit system.
In order to reduce the cost of liv
ing" he said. I'VE must tax land
values much more heavily. We must
also cover into the Federal Treasury
much more of the twenty-odd billions
OF collars OF pFOuL SCCuEGO
profteers during the war.
''In the District of Colu nbia." SAID
Mr.. Marsh. "the increase in rents dur
ing the war has been ineNcusa be.
There is no solution for this increase
and the high cost of dwellings, and
high rents but for Congress 10 levy
high taxes upon land spectators Ct
the city.
Washington should raise every
penny of its expenses and II should
meet all Of its local expenditure. ami
not so per cent of them by taxation
of land values. The land own-rs CT
the District have proiteered in pro-
portion worse than almost any Of the
wars most famous profiteers.
ut may be temporarily necessary
for the Government to make loans for
the construction of dwellings in this
congested city. A few years ago
seven families and corporations own
ed nearly one-seventh of the acreage
of non-public land in the District. In
New York city thirteen families own
about one-twentieth of the value of
the lands"
Hugh Jeffries, president of the
American Military Reform Associa-
lion. an ex-sergeant in the army, also
testified He gave the committee no
information regarding prices here,