Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1920-08-28
Commission Men Generally
Agree That Bumper Crops
Must Cause Reduction in
Rates This Winter.
SLUMP ALREADY UNDER
WAY ALONG MANY LINES
New Attitude of Labor Is One
Of Most Hopeful Signs
Men Now Consent to Turn
Out Honest Days Work.

Chicago Tribune -Omahs Bee Leased Wire.
Chicago, Aug. 27.-Time is ap-
preaching when that patient burden
bearer, Mr.. Ultimate Consumer, can
get out the hewgag and regale HIM
self with a little joyful music, for
prices are tumbllng,
If people starve TO death this
winter it will not be the fault of the
farmer, for reports show greater
crops of better quality than were
produced last season. Commission
], men and food experts generally
agree that this vast surplus must
result in lower prices. These have
already set in, and are being felt all
~along the line.
Perhaps the most noticeable de-
clines at present are in various
classes Of food. clothing and shoes.
Sugar has already taken a decided
flop and is due for further decline,
and experts say it will fall to 10 or
IL cents a pound before the end is
reached. Huge potato crops in Min
Lnesota and other states noted for
f production of this highly important
food product assures much lower
lprices and removes all fear of d
Niamine.
Labor Attitude Hopeful.
Perhaps the most hopeful of all
signs is the attitude of labor. There
has been no reduction in the price
OF labor or its hours, but the men
are speeding up at most gratify-
ing rate. Brick layers, who have
taken note of many men walking
the streets seeking employment, are
now laying 50 to so per cent more
brick day. Carpenters, who are
attention to their work. instead of
devotng their short hours TO filing
saws and consulting their base bail
pool cards.
The same change goes for other
branches of labor, excepting, always,
political and municipal employees. II
The chief fly in the ointment is
the hoggish attitude of the land
lords. They are still gougmg tenants
to the limit and propose to give
them a still heavier dose when
October leases are made out. The
increased rentals will eat up all
that may be saved on lower priced
food products. Tenants are organ
izing for mutual protection and the
legislature will be asked to pass an
especial law to curb the greedy rent
hogs.
Make Big Profits.
As serving to show some OF the
declines, watermelons afford good
example. An ordinary melon that
can be bought on the street for 50
cents, is cut 20 ways in the res
k/taurants and hotels and the charge
Y is Is cents for slice-thus netting
the restaurant 800 to 400 per cent
\proht. The restaurant proprietor
Who gets $5 for a melon cut into
20 slices, buys them under so cents
each in quantities.
Shoes are markedly lower, A
community sale conducted here tor
several weeks has broken the shoe
market wide open. Bankers refused
the clothing manufacturers and
x,lcalers any further money Tor sky
4 rocketing purposes and they have
been forced 10 unload their stocks at
reasonable prices. Suits that were
4 $50 two months ago may be had for
$50 or under. Shoes that sold Tor
Sl4 to SlS a month ago, are now Of
Tered at So.
While the public is assured OF
lower prices for some food pro-
ducts, it will have " pay more for
fuel Wholesale and retail coal deal
ers announced increases in prices
ranging from s. cents to Slo0 ton,
to meet the increased freight rates.
Southern Illinois coal will cost the
consumer So ceents ton more, while
eastern bituminous is increased $105
and anthracite Slo0 ton. Indiana
coal will cost s. to 81 cents ton
more. The wage increase Just grant
, ed Illinois and Indiana minis ers may
be also tackled on the price to con-
Surlers