The Caldwell tribune., 1920-12-31

to wait very long before he finds that
his store has only second grade GUS
toners left.
| There has been no end of debate as
to whether the manufacturers, the
wholesalers, jobbers or retailers have
been the greatest profiteers. The fact
is that there have been too many over
ly avaricious concerns and people in
all these classes. The public has had
to stand for high prices, and just now
while these prices arc being hammered
down that same public is insisting ON
quality in the rendering of service, as
well as in quality in the merchandise
and food products which it buys.
In the readjustment period it must
not be forgotten that no class of busi-
ness can operate under pre-war rates
with after-war expenses that are 100
and 200 per cent greater than in 1914.
Therefore the readjustment prices do
not contemplate pre-war prices or
rates, but they do aim toward estab-
fishing a reasonable margin of profit
upon everything that is bought and
sold. 1t does not matter whether this
be railroad fares, the price of electric
lights or power, gas, telephone or
shoes and stockings.
Out of the war labor has progress
ed and the fact that higher rate of
service is demanded by the public
than ever before has created demand
for competent labor which in turn de-
mands salaries and wages commensur-
ate with the service that it renders.
You have in these facts basic con-
dition which the American public not
only accepts, but which it has made,
and insists upon keeping. In these
firmly established relations there are
found reasons which every one has
recognized, as we'll as various reasons
why prices of all kinds must remain
higher than in past years.
Slightly Behind the Times.
A number of different States are en-
deavoring to perpetuate cheap railroad
fare. The administrative and legal
authorities of all States know that
Congress assumed government control
of the railroads in passing the trans
portation act by which the roads were
returned to private ownership. There
is no question that Congress had this
right, and it was a step that was taken
after dozen years of violent discus
sion. In order to carry out this policy
the Interstate Commerce Commission
was clothed with administrative pow
ers to fix intrastate rates. This pow
er was conferred in such a manner as
to meet all the obstructive objections
that had been urged in the past by diff
ferent States. Therefore the attempts
of number of States to perpetuate
a cheaper rate within their borders
than rates in effect in adjoining States
is merely the resurrection of an effort
that was made defunct when the pres
|ent railroad law enacted. These ef-
forts to secure favoritism do not con-
tain any element that is new and the
courts passed upon these questions so
long ago that Congress had no diff
Guilty whatever in thoroughly fastcn-
ing the loose buttons. when FEDERAL
control was made fact The theory
|of the relations between the Govern
ment and the railroads is simple
enough since it merely contemplatesI
an absolutely equal basis Of rates for
|all people in all States with favors forI
none so arranged that the net returns
Twill pay to stockholders of Americana
railroads percentage upon their in
vestments equal, and not greater, than
that which big and little indust0 les
and mercantile establishments demArS
as their compensation for doing bust !
ness.
Another Burlesonesque Exhibit.
The report of Postmaster General
Burleson for the fiscal year 1920 shows
a deficit of $l7, ,270, ,482, the second larg-
est deficit ever known in the Post Of
flee Department. Mr.. Burleson blames
the deficit upon Congress, claiming
that it was. due to the war bonus paid
to postal employees under Congression-
al order. In effect, Burleson wanted
the Post Office employees of the coun-
try to work for wages that meant star
vation, and when Congress had the
good sense to rule otherwise. Burle-