The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-09-11
SECRET OF HIGH
COST or: LIVING
Partial List Of Firms That Have
Rolled Up Big Dividends
Since War Began.

Every time an extra penny is added
to the price of commodity used by
the people it means just that much
more profit for the Fat Boys. The
returns made by leading corporations
to the internal revenue department
reveal general and astounding goug-
ing during and since the war.
Samuel Gompers. president of the
A. F. of L.. is authority for the list
of American firms published below
that have exacted excessive profits
from the people. Our readers are
urged to clip this list to exhibit to
those who still wonder why the cost
of living is so high. Here are the
real profiteers:
Cluett. Peabody & Co.. makers Of
mems collars in 1919 made net profits
Of s5,153,129. an increase of 175 per
cent over 1918.
The international Paper Co. for the
three-year period from 1916 to 1919
increased its annual net profits 4S7
per cent over the previous period of
1909 to 1915. The aggregate common
stock dividend for the period 1915 to
1919 is s74.15.
The May Department Stores In
creased net common stock earnings
ia per cent for 1919 over the year
1915.
The Amoskeag Mtg. Co. enjoyed a
net increase in common stock earn
ings Of S11 per cent for 1919 over
1917 in the face of a decrease in the
volume Of business handled.
The United States Rubber Co.,
which makes automobile tires among
other things, increased it's net COM
mon stock earnings AZ per cent for
1918 over 1916 and the 1919 figure
will show a still greater increase.
In the case of the United Drug Co..
the net increase in common stock
earnings for 1913 over 1916 was 14S
per cent
The Tobacco Products Corporation
made an exceptional record. Its net
Increase in common stock earnings for
1918 over 1914 was 1547 per cent.
The United Fruit CO. levied a trl-
butte upon fruits brought into the
United States from tropical countries
sufficient to produce a net increase
for 1919 over 1914 of SAT per cent
on its common stock earnings.
The Standard Milling Co.. which
means flour. Increased it's net com
mon stock earnings 1876 per cent for
1913 over 1913.
The American Linseed Co. ranks
high on the list with an increase Of
$50 per cent on net common stock
earnings for 1919 over 1916
The National Enameling e. Stamp
Ing Co., makers of kitchen ware, en-
1oyed net increase in common stock
earnings for the period 1916 to 1919
over the period 1909 20 1915 of LIS
per cent The increase in average an
nual earnings for this three-year pc
riod over the previous seven-year
period was 32e per cent.
For the General Cigar COMPANY
there was an increase in net income
of "a per cent for 1919 over 1917.
The Manhattan Shirt Co. enjoyed
an increase in net income of 275 per
cent for 1919 over 1915.
The American Ice Co. furnishes no
hot weather consolation in a study of
its profits, the increase in net income
having been 1913 per cent from 1919
over 1914.
The Pacific Mills which again
means flour, enjoyed an increase in
net income Of Els per cent for 1919
over 1915.
The Burns Bros. Co.. largest dis
tributors of coal and ice in New York
City. had an increase in net income Of
70 per cent in 1919 over 1915 in spite
of the fact that the sales Of coal for
1919 totaled $4,000 tons less than
1915.
For the American Hide & Leather
Co. the increase in net income fol-
1919 over 1914 was 265 per cent