The public ledger., 1920-10-30
II. c. L. BIG ISSUE.

1T is becoming more and more
plain as the campaign progresses and
the people begin to think seriously OF
the arguments advanced by the re-
spective patries that the League OF
Nations is not live issue with the
American people" says Senator Pen
rsse. of Pennsylvania, in the New
York Times. "They will become more
interested in the next few months In
the high ling costs, the economical
things near to them, such as the many
direct taxes imposed in war times.
would not be surprised to see eco
nomic matters, such as taxation, high
costs for the necessaries and profiteer-
ing, absorb the entire attention OF the
voter and eclipse the big issues pro-
claimed as vital in the party plat
FORMS"
Topeka Capital: Railroad cost OF
living has increased even more than
the cost of living for everybody in the
country, according to circular is
sued by the Rock Island showing the
heavy increase in the cost Of equip
ment and the necessity for efficient
operation on the part of all employees
with view of getting maximum serv-
ice out Of the equipment.
Locomotives, for which the rail-
roads paid $27,S76 in 1914 now cost
$75,75O or an increase of III per cent,
ii states. In 1914 railroad had to
pay about per cent. interest charges
on funds invested in locomotives. To-
day the road must pay about 7s per
cent. A box car could be bought in
1914 for about $1,000. Today it costs
nearly $4,000. This is an increase of
200 per cent.
Camden Post-Telegram; Camden
lens who feel the increased pinch OF
higher rents and boosted trolley, gas,
railroad and ferrlage rates are told by
the Federal Reserve Board that with
the exception of food there is an i'm
portant downwent tendency in prices
of all commodities in all parts of the
country.
"They may find 1t difficult to believe
that old High Cost of Living has re-
ceived solar plexus, but the Federal
Reserve Board says, like the late DR..
Munyon There is hope!'
"Prices for anthracite coal were ad-
vanced 80 cents ton on all sizes with
the exception of pea coal, where the
advance was rs cents ton, by dealers
in Philadelphia and vicinity yesterday,
the day the new freight rates ment in
to effect"
Minneapolis Tribune: "The people
Of this country have four main
Thoughts with respect to the railroads.
First, that transportation service be
efficient, impartial, and continuous;
second, that railroad labor be COM
pensated with wages that take into ac-
count not only the cost of living, but
the skill, the strain, the responsibility
and the hazard involved; third, that
the companies be permitted to earn
enough to meet adequate payrolls
maintain properties expand them with
the growth of traffic, and pay holders
of legitimate securities a fair return
on their investments; fourth, that the
roads be operated privately and be
regulated by the government"
Muncie Press: "She tariff will be-
come an increasingly vital issue In
the present campaign, if we mistake
not. Figures showing the vast amount
of revenue we have lost in the last
seven years during which the Demo
cratic tariff law has been operative
are available and should open the eyes
of those who affirm that the tariff Il
dea dissue' In that period of sever
years, our imports in value were
slightly under $4,000, 100000 ant
from these revenue of 1881 90 ,00(
was turned into the Federal trasury
In the previous seven years, 1911;
inclusive, under a Republican protec
tive tariff policy, our imports aggre
gated about $1O,OOO,OOO, 1000, or abou
half of those of the last seven years