The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1920-02-21

it in that industry, yet weekly adj
vances of So to IS thousand are
not uncommon.
Regarding Price of Lath
Relative to profits in lumber,
reliable Kansas lumber dealer writes
me Ten months ago the wholesale
price of the best grade Of lath was
$3.50. We are selling lath to trade
today at $40 thousand, although by
the inclosed new price list showing
lath at wholesale, lath is now quoted
to US at SLIPS and s1s.25 a thou
sand +. o. b. this place.
Il begin to think the only way out
is fort the public to stop buying. I
would much sooner lock up and lay
off for six months than continue bus
ipess under present conditions. So
think it is up to the government to
advise the people to stop buyings The
big five don't get all the hogs to
slaughter.
Here is an increase of nearly two
hundred per cent in ten months on the
war price of a staple commodity. In
shameless and reckless greed the
lumber barons now lead the process
sion.
''Mr. President, the market price
Of the farmers livestock has declined
nearly fifty per cent, bringing many
farmers to the verge Of bankruptcy,
but the high prices the consumers
pay for meat are virtually unchang-
ed. This is particularly true Of pork,
Of which we have surplus Of more
than one and one-half billion pounds
produced last year, besides large
quantities in storage
Profiteering in Coal Also
"The fuel administration restricted
the advance in wages asked for by
the striking bituminous coal miners
to fourteen per cent, because at that
per cent the consumer would not
have to be further taxed for his coal
Notwithstanding this estimate, care
fully based on facts. Chicago coal
dealers and perhaps others have
since advanced the retail price of |
coal sixty cents or more 3 ton. /
have a telegram today from Leaven-
worth, Kansas, that the public is be-
ing compelled to pay the fourteen
per cent increase. The income tax
returns prove the mine operators get
excessive profits. During the recent |
strike it was shown that miners
wages in the soft coal field were not
excessive. But very little or no in
formation whatever was disclosed in
regard to the actual profits Of the
operators, which still are known only
to themselves and the bookkeepers
sMr. President, all the quotations
have referred to conspire to prove
that it is profiteering in manufac
turing by the great industrial cor
porations that has sand-bagged the
public rather than by merchants who
deal directly with the consumer It
goes behind the retail price. No doubt
there is price gouging by some Of the
but it is the price Of goods
when they leave the factory to which
the administration best attention
should be first directed.
Cougers are Getting BOlder
"These gigantic corporations have
become drunk with uncomfortable
profits extorted from too compliant
public.
1.-THE outstanding fact is that there
IS nowhere the slightest indication Of
any change in the strategy Of the
great trusts, combines and industrial
in fattening thier profits.
A thief has only to steal half as much
these days to commit grand
larceny, but it seems a profiteer cor
poration may take all it can get from
he people and then make them pay its
war taxes besides.
Prosecution Of ITO profiteers in
10 states already has been started
By the department Of justice since q
penalty was added to the Lever Act.
In some cases fines and jail sentences
have been imposed. OF the victims Of
governmental harshness one was fined
500 and given brief stay behind
The bars; another was fined $3.50 and
given three months, and the third had
j fine Of $4,000 and five months in
jail administered to him. These three
martyrs were hoarders.
Mr.. President, the department Of
justice is to be highly commended for
Is efforts to stamp out bolshevism.
It took the government secret service
Just few weeks to round up and put
ii prison $500 Reds. And when it
comes to profiteers, the Reds are in 3
pitiful minority. / am glad to see It
S now proposed to have the secret
service raid the profiteers, the most
potent promoters Of anarchy we have.
Il this raid is prosecuted with the Wig
Or and backed up BY the imprison-
ment Of profit extortiOners It win
have most wholesome and aalutary /
result.
Put The GouEers in Jail
We deport the Reds. and I hearti-
IL approve the Rogernmank.s efforts Il