American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1919-08-16

the victims OF economic conditions be-
yond anybodys control. Their asser-
,tions that they make an almost infin-
itesmal profit and often operate at a
loss do not seem to make much i'm
preston on either the public or the
agencies Of justice. That their state
ments are not always ingenious Is in
stanced by the following assertion OF
the Commercial research department"
Of one Of the big Ave:
"The general high price level Is not
due to manipulation. This is shown
by recent report Of the war indus
tries board, which proves that prices
In other countries OF the world have
risen as much as or more than they
have In the United States. and that
this has been true even In countries
relatively unaffected by war conditions.
such as japan and Australia"
The truth is that Australia is glutted
with food products and Its people are
struggling to keep prices up to a prof
liable level. Also. while there was a
big advance in the prices of Japan's
chief food, rice, It was admittedly due
to the manipulations Of hOarders and
,profteers and was the cause Of riots
and of government action.
The sugar situation is confusing
and statements are as conflicting as
those relating to the packing industry.
However the government believes the
sugar men also are profitecring and
three officials of the Pittsburgh branch
OF Y Chicago concern were arrested.
1t Is asserted that scalpers have vast
quantities of sugar stored away and
that dealers are forced to buy where
they can and pay what Is asked. In
this. MS In the case Of other food prod
uctS, the accused say the government
is partly 10 blame for shipping vast
supplies to Europe and thus creating
domestic shortage. The concerted
attacks by federal and local authori-
ties caused immediate and sharp de-
cllnes in the wholesale prices Of many
foods, but there was little evidence
that the consumer was pr0tlting by the
declines, which seemed to put some of
the onus on the retailers.
The federal trade commission late
~ has been making an inquiry into the
shoe business, aud has informed con
gress that the high prices of shoes are
due 10 the unprecedented and unjust
ified profits taken by the slauglterers,
Here, again, the packers are hit. for
they are charged with causing an un-
warranted Increase In the price OF
hides. the supply of which they are
said to control.
Following up the memorandum OF
the locomotive engineers presented to
the president, fourteen railroad uni
ons acting as unit handed TO Director
General Hines demand for wage In
creases with general program de
| signed to meet the present crisis, in
volving the threat Of general railroad
strike. They ask that congress appro
pirate the money to provide increased
pay and that the proper rate-makini
body then determine what increases
II any should be made In rates.
"Any permanent solution Of the rail
road problem must necessarily remove
the element OF returns to capital as IN,
sole purpose of operation" say tn
unions, and so the director general Il
asked 10 recommend to President VII
by congress OF the so-called Plumb
plan. This plan, In eliminating prI
vatc capital from the railroads. no
only proposes hut demands that tn
present private owners be reimburse
with government bonds for every hon
est dollar that they have invested
that the public, the operating manage
ments, and labor share equally In COZ
poratlons TO take over the railroads
and that In all revenues In excess q
the guarantee to private capital the OF
orators and employees share one-hal
"elther by increasing the means fc
service without increasing fixed chars
es or by reducing the cost of the Sc
vice which the machinery then in Sc
} render"
: The union leaders say that II Il
} Plumb plan is rejected they will sta
campaign beth In and out of CO.
gress that will compel Its adoptio
and they declare frankly that II Is the
, hope that 1t will lead to the national
D cation of all other basic industris
= Senator Thomas of Colorado d
c nounced the demands of the rail wor
= ers as near-treasOn, and other mel
r bers of congress shared his opinio
Q though they We're less outspOken.