The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-01-30
LIVING COSTS
STILL RISING
Labor Department on One Hand
and Justice on Other Coun-
ter-Claim as to Trend.
FIGURES SHOW INCREASE
Graham, of Illinois, Says Palmer
Handed People a Lemon
in I'll. G.. l.. Statements.
BY GEORGE II. BANNING.

Washington, Jan. 29.-The high cost
of living goes merrily higher, accord
ing to the governments latest figures.
while the labor department and Jus
tice department squabble over whether
living costs are going up or down.
The labor department asserts, and
gives figures to prove it, that living
costs are going higher all the time
going up 20 per cent in December over
November and 50 per cent higher than
in December. 1913 while the justice de
partment with fair price committees"
at work everywhere declares cOmplac-
entity that they are going down, but
give no figures to back up their state
ment
Congressman William J. Graham, Of
Illinois. after going out and buying a
little of everything, declares Attorney
General Palmer handed the people a
lemon" when he joyfully announced
that prices have been going down since
August Is. last.
In the hope of bringing down living
costs by exposing the food profiteers
to the score of the public Senator Will
liam J. Harris. Of Oregon, former
chairman CT the Federal Trade Com
mission, has applied to the treasury de-
partment for figures showing the per-
centages of profits made for the past
three years by dealers in all necessities
of life.
u do not know what some people
mean when they announce that retail
food prices are falling" declared Dr.
ROYAL Meeker, u. s. commissioner OF
labor statistics, in reference to Attor-
new General Palmcr's assertion that
living costs are going down. Prices
seem to have forgotten how to fan.
The ancient saw Whatever goes up IS
sure to come down seems to be dis
proven by the ballooning OF retail 1000
prices. | know what l mean Wheh
saw that food prices rose in December
over November and that prices are sun
rising in January. Tabulatlon or prices
ON July 18th in New York, Newark ana
pbiIadeInbia indicate that most food
articles are still going skyward ana no
npaepaat-cf asale than theeasnas sllghs
seasonal drop in March and April
Meanwhile the department of justice
fortified nv all the war emergency leg
islation and special measures pass, Il
nv congress at its request to eaten the
FOOD nrofiteprs. has made no headWay
in reducing living costs. In some $50
Iotnd instances increased prices OF Ioou'
baye been prevented by threats OF falr
nricn agents of the justice department
and the occasional arrest OF 1la8rah'
food profiteer. But taking the coun n.
Inv nv and large food prices continue
70 rise and the figures of the statlstl.
cal division of the labor department.
Attorney General Palmer ana MI
Figg of his department, however, G t,dt
tfn1Ie to issue statements deelarlh5 IN
food prices have gone DOWN anu WIN
continue to go down. ...- ,,.ond
You do not need to take my WorG
sou tbe accuracy and dependability OF
l nII. T,r figures" continues Dr.. Meek
our o. c f Of the statistics division. de-
Gl of labor, but they are 80
ior ', cont accurate. They are used in
every pve wv wage adjustment of importance
IN 81 the country and accepted by both
o ~ 'Il and employers without ques-