Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-08
MOUNT|NGPR|CES
|PUTT|NCPEOPLEAT
THEIR WITS ENDS
Various Remedies Fail to
Halt H. C. Special
Worries in D. c.


Despite the eftorts Of the Department
Of Justice. the various civic organiza-
tions- and other movements inaugurated
to Tower the high cost Of living" prices
of everything have been steadily mount
Ing until now the average housewife is
really up against IT, in her problem
to make both ends meet.
Economists have raeked their brains
for a solution to the problem, and thus
far their efforts have met with crush
ing defeat No one seems to be able to
FIX the blame for the high prices and
effect an immediate and lasting remedy.
All Disclaim Responsibility.
Manufacturers say they are not to
blame: farmers declare they are not re-
sponsible: retail merchants aver thew
are operating at the smallest possible
margin Of profit" and that sweeping re.
duct1ons in the prices Of the goods thew
sell would not be feasible" Labor saws
1t is not responsible.
And the consuming public, bowed
with the weight Of prices heaped upon
possibly stand for another increase.
that the back Of the camel is already
loaded to capacity and further addi-
ton to the burden will probably cause
something to snap.
@Something May Happen.n
Economists and close students Of hu-
man nature are unanimous in their as
sertion that prices cannot continue to
mount without something happen-
Ing" Each dollar. greatly decreased
In value, is being stretched to the
limit by the public in order to pur-
chase the necessities Of life.
The newspapers are filled daily with
reports from every section OF the
upward trend. and there seems to be
no hope Of a reduction.
In Washington there are many con-
tributfng causes to the general pub.
lies worriment.
Worries in WasAington.
Here are a few Of the reasons why
the consuming public in Washington is
worrying:
Street car fares have jumped from
6A to 7h cents.
Washington Gas Light Company
wants to increase the cost Of gas to
washington consumers approximately
35 cents per 1000 cubic feet.
chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
phone rates in the District.
Potatoes are in the same class with
jewels and precious stones. House,
wives are unable to buy more than one
fourth or q peck at time. Some
housewives. whose pocktbooks have felt
more keenly than others the high cost
Of living. are buying potatoes "by the
piece"
Sugar II sOut Of sigAt.n
Sugar is "out of sight" That II
is scarce has been the experience of
every person who carries q market
basket. Twenty to 20 cents a pound
is asked by dealers who have been
provtdent enough. or know how to
pull wires" sufficiently, to lay up q
store of sugar. The refiners and rep
of the Department Of
together to effect remedy" for the
shortage of sugar and the prevailing
high prices. but up to the present
has been accomplished In the
way of relief to the housewife.
Thousands Of tons Of fruit and veg
cording to dealers. unless enough
sugar is allotted to housewives and
establishments for presery-
ing. But the housewife will not nav
20 cents q pognd for sugar to pre-
ming can be done.
Strawberries, which should be plen-
tiful and comparatively cheap at this
time Of the year. are selling in the
of 40 cents a box. And
there Is q shortage" reported in this
fruit.
And so on ad lib
Trying to Find Remedy.
The question arises. what steps are
being taken to combat high prices?
The Department of Justice is en-.
deavoring to find a solution to the
problem by fixing what 1t considers
flair margins Of profit" for dealers
and producers. Howard Figg, who
is in charge of the governments cam
paign. has appointed a fair price ad-
visory board. consisting of representa-
tive business men Of the District.
Some time ago. the public took en-
from the fact that the
advisory board refused to grant the |
bakers Of Washington an increase in |
their bread prices. But yesterday the |
board met and decided that beginning
the bakers will be justified |
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