Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-18
Peace and High Costs

a GREAT body Of the American people is
bcwildcred by the economics OF the
peace period There are an infinite number
of facts and circumstances about the business
life OF the nation. now that the war is over.
which are totally incomprehensible and
which no governmental agent or anybody else
has undertaken 10 explain.
The most pcrplexing of the unanswered
and perhaps unanswerable questions is why
the cost of practically everything that tho
American buys or uses continues to advance"
Such advances were expected while the war
lasted They were prepared for the increases
10 such extent as the average pockctbook
could prepare for them, and the country as
whole was reconcied in large measure to
excessive prices, to scarcities in all directions.
to handicaps and to hardships. But when
the war was terminated. when Europe ceased
TO depend on this country for vast supplies,
when the army was practically demobilized
and the government went out of the market
for wholesale quantities and first choice of
necessary commodities, it was assumed that
the nation would gradually return to n nor
NAL basis. 1t was assumed that the pur
chasing power OF dollar would rise instead
OF drop, and that in time. it would be possible
for the man Of moderate earnings to live
decentlv again.
This has not come to pass. On the con-
trary. wartime prices are outdistanced by
peace prices. This is particularly true of
food and clothing and general household
necessities. Meats are higher than ever. flour
and sugar. fruits and poultry. and eggs and
butter have not reacted Instead they are at
abnormally high levels. Even clothing is
more expensive than it ever has been. The
government no longer monopolizes the wool
or cotton markets, but woolenS and cotton
goods become dearer and dearer each day
Nor is that all The street car companies
now that peace has come, want more money.
They are camoring all over the country for
the right TO charge and Z and even 10
cents for fares instead OF cents or six
tickets for q quarter. They want the privi-
lege Of charging for transfers. The gas and
electric lght companies are demanding more
money 10 keep their corporations out of the
hands OF receivers. The railroad admins
tration declares that 10 per cent increase
n all transportation charges will soon have
10 be ordered.
Servants wages are higher than they have
ever been. Workmen generally insist upon
more money. Telegraph and telephone
Charges have gone up since the armistice. In
fact. il IS difficult 10 point 10 anything that
has remained stationary much less been re-
duced in price. And all this is a time OF
peace. Il IS no wonder that men and women
are wondering what the country is coming
to. They have not expected, OF course that
the old pre-war prices would be restored
!rm ediatelv after the war was ended, but
they did have the RICH, 10 hope that the
war prices would not be raised. They had
reason 20 assume that the maximum cost OF
necessary commodities had been reached
when the fighting was suddenly stopped last
November.
There may be some reasonable explanation
for all this, but il has not been forthcoming
No economist has risen up to give the coun-
rry satisfactory answer 20 the question,
and what is worse, nobody points the way
10 early relief from the conditions as they
now exist