Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-02-19
OPERATION Of
::!l!:l WORKERS NEEDED
=: :f;'S;;isiIEDUCE HIGH
COST OF LIVING
Profiteering Is the Last and
Least of Six Reasons for
Present High Prices, Says
Government Official,
LABOR MUST WORK 60
MINUTES EVERY HOUR
Lengthening Work Day IS
Not Necessary, But Every
Effort Should Be Made By
TOiIerS to Boost Output,

tsV MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wIREl
New York. Feb. 1s.--Profiteerlng
is the last and least OF six reasons
for the high cost of living given
today by Howard f. Figg, assist
ant United States attorney general,
at the ninth annual convention OF
the National Dry Goods association.
He asserted. however. that some
of the dry goods dealers were
guilty of profteering and should
be punished without trial. while he
believed all were guilty of having
profiteered. perhaps unwittingly,
at some time or other.
THE first reason for present
conditions said the speaker. lis
the increased volume of money and
credits; second, the wide increase
in wages, due partly to war neces-
stiles and government wage scales;
third. lessened world production;
fourth, increased cost of distribu-
ton; fifth. reckless extravaganza
and a spirit of speculation, and
sixth, profiteering.
Mr.. Figg predicted that there
would be no appreciable price re-
duction until labor considers it,
self part of the whole of industry
and consents to cooperate"
II do not mean" he explained,
that labor must give UP its short
work days and its high wages, but
labor must work a full sixty min
utes in each hour" n",
The excess profits and luxury
taxes are tremendous factors In the
high cost of living and one tax
which can be controlled Eat a CEN
trail point" must take their places,
MIR. Figg said explaining that this
meant single tax on the ultimate
consumer. He declared himself
personally opposed to interference
with business by the government
but asserted that during the pres
ent emergency there should be
regulation "at least of profits" by
some agency"
81 think the retailer has a defi-
mite part to play in making labor
see the light" Mr.. Figg said You
retailers are dictators to the man
and should reflect the
public's attitude to the manufac-
turer, The public Is entirely sat
urated with high prices. | doubt
If it can absorb very much more.
"This brings us to the danger OF
an overstocked retailer if prices go
much higher and | think the time
time will be seen.
v,f,,eoI nf ihn NnhItc 10, h,tr,
has been seen in woman's attire
first; the refusal of the women 10
absorb further increases. Men
usually are considered the more
prudent buyers, but the women are
first this time.
Il think the necessity for a re-
duction in prices Is to save busi-
ness, The public In large part has
lost confidence in the big business
of the country, We want to re-
that confidence. / believe
it is one thing the government can
do. We realize In Washington.
however, that we cannot reduce
prices without the aid of all inter-
ests.
I'VE are not going to allow you
additional profits for additional
risks. Good Will have to be soh
at market prices and will have to
be delivered on the contract prices.
at is not entirely the fault of
the retailer that prices are high. L
think he was largely responsible
1T the outset for the 'skyrocketing
Of prices. | don't mean that he
was altogether to blame. The
demands put goods on
the auction block.
The retailer was the first to
realize that prices were too high.
He was the first to appeal to the
Unless the economic affairs of
America are speedily adjusted the
country will have used up its sur
plus and eve shall be living on a
nerve" DR.. David Savlle Muzzey,
author and educator, declared.