Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-31
labor OPPOSES MEASURE
UNION MEN VOTE AGAINST
BILL FOR MARKING PRICES
Central Trades md Labor Council
sss-i Asks General Assembly to Defeat
is-aG Boschen'S PROPOSAL,

1sClaiming that the attempt 10 fx
z nGfces by statutory enactment IS un !,
sound and uneconomiCal. the Richmond
Central Trades and Labor Council. rep
resenting 1900 producers and con-
aSSs s weH me OK sSer b si Gha
inS4the House of Delegates 20 check
urbtitterlnE by requiring that the cost
ana Sailing price he marked on each
SSecesS OF, merchandise offered for sale
rnPEjGetfl&iEE by statute would pper-
ate to centraiize the control of indus
loWes ylerel, and would hold out no
ihcsat peH:jo the worker TO improve
his product, the resolutions adopted
lastsnyght set forth. This practice would
head aIaEnaking bodies into the folly
Or; guaranteeing profits, which prin-
ciple is destructive OF both industry
and government" one OF the para
graphs lin the resolution reads.
s9o1hh" Commission Suggested,
THE resolution requests that the bill
BE passed by on the ground that the
cause OF high prices lies SO deeply
rooted in the industrial system that
the bill cannot reach it and accom-
pliSh beneficial results. suggestion
is made in the resolution that a COM
mission be appointed TO inquire into
the cause OF present conditions in our
State and recommend corrective legis-
lation."
The resolution follows:
Nhercas. there mas been introduced
In the House of Delegates OF the state
Legislature OF NirginIq. bill, entitled
"A, bill prohibiting proiitcering. hoard
ihE. waste and resales of necessaries,
s?fWhereas, we know there is most
Certainty great and pressing need
Ter correcting the present vicious
circle of rising prices,
.,.sWhereas. we believe the introduce
ton OF the above mentioned hill Was
pnompted by sincere ana earnest de-
sire. TO bring about reduction in
prices: nevertheless We do not believe
the ibili, as written. reaches the cause
fromrwhich high prices spring.
b,A re- W.
the Central Trades ana Labor Council,
Of Richmond, Nirsinia. speaking with
also consumers, herewith request the
House OF Delegates 10 pass this hill
by and for the following reasons
st,, FIRST paragraph tnA!us OF prices at
attempt to fix prices by statutory
enactment is unSound and uneronumi-
troll OF industry. i, would operate TO
fix wages II the lowest level. and Of
Ter no Incentive 10 the worker to i'm
prove his product. by which he
shortens his hours ana increases his
return II would eventually lead law
making bodies into the folly Of guar
anteeinS profits. which principle is de-
eminent.
Second paragraph tkecping cost
Keeping OF cost records in Il manner
that would make them intelligible 10
Inc ,. average man would entail the
the amount of labor necessary for pro-
duction and distribution, thereby in
fefred Ey ' this nFass Tne
enter the privacy of u firms books
places 100 great premium on dis
honesty and We fear would give rise
10 corruption in Office.
Would RniNe Prices
Third paragraph ,unrking OF. all
far wi The feT and selling
fneceSsar:es'y defined in this bill are
standard or staple commodities sold
n ,he,re patented Or seopyrighted trade
QIfatheSe commodities have SO widely
advertised these goods and their re-
tau price that the jobbcrs and retail
erS handling them do not now have to
mark cren the selling price on them.
To require further handling would
only increase the labor expenditure
tion or this section would also tend TO
ariVe trade from the smaller mer-
chants 10 The larger and assist in fur
ther centEaNzinE control.
- tor the fourth. NTH and sixth
ha,r,agraphs we have no criticisms. We
Masteininess and resaleS OF goods to
tHigEle5, the Market is reprchenSihir
and should be condemned. We believe
In is shiicientsaut in law now
To- correct these abuses.
,,,fl Boschcn Spirit Praised.
w, aesire 10 say that We do not
this bill, hut We doubt the cflicacy OF
the bill, owe believe the cause of high
prices lies deeper rooted in our indus
tEtal-sEstcm-. than this bill can reach
We do not believe that the conditions
sought To be rcmcdied arise from the
common human vices. We believe the
cause lies in our failure as people
toigrasp and UNDERSTAND tho. political
ecanomH OF nature, j. e. that the land
tst onr natural abiding place and the
seor ehouse from which we draw an
tns ,necessaries' OF life aud in our
fa1fure TO understand VIC give our
sanction to system that dcprives the
most OF up OF the use Of this store
mouse except by the consent and upon
the terms qajd down by the fewcst Of
us. IN sh1rt a system OF special priv
ileges M.hich fosters monopoNstic CON
troll OF land. natura! resources and ma
tional crtdii ana which denies the fun
adamshtai guarantee OF our Constitu-
:Ion, equal rights and opportunities to
give, therefore Respectfully reoues,
obi THIS bill be passed by and COM
aslon be appointed 10 inquire into
cause Of present conditions in our
Wand recommend corrective legis-