The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-11-10
HALF OF EVERY DOLLAR SPENT GOES
FOR SERVICE

Service absorb ~ cents dollar the
pays for agricultural products according Represen
totiVe Sidney Anderson chairman of the Joint Commission of
Agricultural Inquiry which has been making an intensive
study of agricultural problems The investigation discoses
the fact that 81 Of the dollar represents
cost of producing the commodity which he purchases
represents the profits to the various interests which handle
the commodity and 40 represents the handling
service This includes such items packing and grading of
goods transportation Insurance. terminal and warehouseing
charges advertising the part of the retailer whatever
agency dsposes OF the goods rent wages and overhead
charges Overhead charges could again be subdved
charges cost of local delivery of bookkeeping
credit system (which includes charge accoun) tee
phones, etc
No Reliable Data Existed
When the commission took up this phase of the work it
found there compilation of reliable data from which
accurate idea OF dsrbutve could be obtained To
get accurate knowledge of the entire relation of of dis
bnton to prices paid to the producer and prices paid the
the commission up machinery Of its which
mission feels that it has probably information and the
information has is nearly accurate than anything
which has heretofore been presented The tremendously dis
proloronae cost of distribution which includes of all
the nstrumentates and which intervene between
the original purchaser and the ultimate consumer the og
cal and inevitable result OF the compexty of modern cvza
ton and the concentration of population in cities The
mission hopes to begin making partial reports of its findings
the Congress about November 5 It's complete report
must be filed not later than January /, next.
Middlemen Desired by Public
The commission conducting the investigation says people
complain of too many middlemen opinion in which the
commission is disposed to with the proviso that such
is the it is the fault of the buying public no middle
men exist without customers who willing pay the
he charges for the service he renders
essary or unnecessary valuable or valueless
II commission is disposed to the view that there not
be much reduction in cost Of commodities
until the consumers display willingness to get along with
less service Legislation cannot remedy this factor because
what is and superuous in the way of service in
community be quite another community
and what exorban charge for service community
be very reasonable charge another Moreover legs
ave bodies have prescribe the number of middle
men who may handle article arbitrarily fix a charge
which they may make for their service.
Consumers Should Organize.
Such matters regulated wholly by public opinion and
ganzaon the part of the and producer Upon
this point Mr. Anderson makes the following very pertinent
comment
After all the producer and the the largest
factors in the problem They the numerous they
the time the least influential because the products
and the selling of the and the requirements and the
buying power of the other unorganized. If find
organize the products and selling power Of the produe
the hand and the requirements and the buying pow
OF the consumer the Other and apply the same
genius of organization distribution that has been applied
to production will have taken long step in the solution of
the problem