Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1921-04-15

world may we'll receive your inquiry.
Dehation has been in provress but
has failed to reach the mark where
it can be proclaimed to the great
mass of consumers. Reduced cost
of basic production has been re-
corded, but high cost of living has
not yielded in like proportion.
Deflation Has Not Reached
Consumer.
For example the prices of grain
and livestock have been Debated, but
the cost of bread and meats is not
adequately reflected therein. 1t is
to be expected that non-perishable
staples will be slow in yielding to
lowered prices, but the maintained
retail costs in perishable foods can
not be justified.
1 have asked the federal trade
commission for a report of its OBJ
servatiOns and it attributes, in the
main, the failure to adjust consum-
ers' cost to basic production costs
to the exchange of information by
"open price associations" which
operate, evidently within the law, to
the very great advantage of their
members and equal disadvantage to
the consuming public Without the
spirit of hostility or haste in accusa-
tion Of protiteering, some suitable
in Inv ,ir1 hn
price readjustment to normal rela-
tionship, with helpfulness of both
producer and consumer.
Measuring Rod of Fair Prices
A measuring rod Of fair prices will
satisfy the country and give us a
business revival to end all depression
and unemployment.
The great interest Of both the pro-
Queer and consumer-indeed, all
our industrial and commercial life,
from agricultural to finance-in the
problems of transportation, will find
it's reflex in your concern to aid re-
esta Enlistment. to restore efficiency
and bring transportation cost into a
helpful relationship rather than con-
tinue it as hindrance to resumed
activities.
It is little to be wondered that all
considered legislation, the war
strain, government operation III
heedlessness of cost and the con-
flicting programs, or the lack of
them for restoration have brought
about most difficult situation made
doubly difficult by the low tide of
business. All are so intimately re-
lated that no improvement will be
permanent until the railways are
operated efficiently at a cost within
that which the traffic can bear.
II we can have 1t understood that
congress has no sanction for gov
eminent ownership, that congress
does not levy taxes upon the people
to cover deficits in service which
had been self sustaining, there will
be an avowed foundation on which
to rebuild.
Must Reduce Railway Costs.
Freight carrying charges have
mounted higher and higher until
commerce is halted and production
discouraged. Railway rates and
costs of operation must be reduced.
Congress may we'll investigate and
let the public understand wherein
our system and the federal regula-
tions are lacking in helpfulnss or
hindering in restrictions. The re-
naming obstacles which are the in
heritance of capitalistic exploitation
must be removed and labor must
join management in understanding
that the public which pays, is the
public to be served and simple JUS
tice is the right and will continue to
be the right Of all the people.
Highways Are Smaller Arteries.
The highways are not only feeders
to the railroads and afford relief
from their local burdens, they are
actually lines of motor traffic in in.
terstate commerce. They are the
smaller arteries of the larger portion
of our commerce and the motorcar
has become an indispensable instru-
ment in our political, social and in
dustrial life.
There is begun new era in high
way construction, the outlay for
which runs far into hundreds of
millions Of dollars. Bond issues by
road districts. counties and states
mount to enormous figures and the
country is facing such an outlay that
1t is vital that every effort shall be
directed against wasted effort and
unjustifable expenditure.
The federal government can place
no inhibition on the expenditure in
several states; but since congress has
embarked upon policy of assisting
the states in highway improvement,
wisely believe 1t can assert wholly