South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-05-11

the retailers by the wholesalers. In
support OF this may be quoted this
recent statement OF Herbert Hoover:
Reduction OF retail prices Is not
keeping pace with the reduction OF
the wholesale trade" To the same
effect Is the statement IN n recent
survey % tho Federal Reserve board
that "the failure OF retail prices 20
come down 20 the level warranted
by the decline in wholesale prices Is
retarding readJustment, resumption
OF manufacturing and employment
OF labor" Two other necessary ex-
penditures from the purse of the
wage-earner have also been exhaust
lively considered by the commission.
namely. the continued high rentals
OF dwelling houses and the contin-
ued high prices OF coal, IN agree
ing upon n reasonable wage az tho
present time. all these matters must
DO taken into consideration. Fair
minded men viii eoneede that at the
very least a wage Garner MUST re-
eeive sufficient compensation. n he
works efficiently and practices thrift.
10 live in a decent house. 20 furnish
for those dependent upon him whole
some food, necessary clothing and
warmth. The contractor is entitled
20 a legitimate profit for his money
advances and his efforts as business
director. And those dealing IN raw
materials are also entitled to a rea-
sonable profit.
Wages Must Await Fall.
II Ia tho opinion of the arhitrators
that wages cannot justly be lowered
beyond the percentage we shall
recommend until fuel and foedstuffs
are cheaper and rents are lower, and
we would earnestly suggest 20 our
fellow citizens that they give con-
alteration at an early date to a pub
licity campaign that will have
tendency to reduce the prices OF the
things that the workers must have
10 a reasonable profit-a profit not
based upon the wholesale price Of
six months or a year ago, but
profit based upon the wholesale
prices of commodities at the present
day. The retailer who seeks to
sell today at a profit. commodities
purchased at the high wholesale
prices Of nine months or a year ago.
IS not only standing i'm the way of
substantial revival Of his own bust
ness, but is also retarding very seri-
ously a desirable building program
In South Bend The Commission
has considered a number Of state
ments filed with us and apparently
we'll worthy of consideration that
there is a wide divergence of prices
In foodstUffs and building material
among dealers doing business within
a radius of 25 miles of South Bend.
and in some instances. especially in
foodstuffs. among retailers within
our city limits. Such conditions gen
orally known and called to public
by such men as Cabinet
Officers Herbert Hoover and flames
A. Davis, are responsible for the
Buyers Strike" which affects.
among other things. a resumption Of
building in this city.
Basis OF Reduction.
Wages are one of the vital factors
been a substantial reduction during
recent months in many commodities
that the wage Garner must buy.
he can justly be asked to
take a substantial reduction in wages
I'm 1921-1922 as against the wages Of
192O-1921. Such a reduction equit-
ably determined and frankly accept
ed at the present time will incline
public opinion favorably toward Ia
Dor and will strengthen its determin-
alton to see that those from whom
he wage Garner must purchase the
necessities of life, are satisfied with
| reasonable profit on the things
hey sell. Our Investigations have
not disclosed that the contractors
ire seeking an unreasonably high
Profit. The contractor passes on the
,ost of wages and OF raw material
o the owner of the structure; and if
wages are equitably reduced, if the
profits of the contractor are reason
lble, and If the cost OF raw material |
pc based upon present wholesale |
prices of lum Der. brick, cement and /
30 on, the Commission believes that |
{ will encourage those contemplate |
ng building. and lead to substantial /
Investments in various structures. rs-
Decially dwelling houses for the /
yage-earning classes.
Dollar More Expensive.
Another consideration that influ-
need the Commission is worthy of |
'ecital. 1t is universally conceded /
hat prices will continue to drop for |
! very considerable period of time SC
hat the purchasing power Of a dol /
ar October / will. in general, be /
greater than il was May /. last If |
his assumption be true the wages /
If "A bricklayer for an S-hour day \
will purchase as much, and perhaps .
more commodities at the price that .
will prevail October / next than 4
would the wages of a bricklayer re-
eived October 1, 1920. at the price
Il the necessities Of life that pre-
'ailed at that time.
As the result of all these consid-
'ratiOns. the Commission recon-
nends that the contractors and the 7
Union enter into an
.greement under which the brick
ayers. for period of one year. will
ccept a wage reduction of IA per
ent per hour for an eight-hour day.
In making this recommendation
he arbitrator have considered con-
cientiOusly the welfare of the brick
ayers the contractors and the equal
y important public without whose
and cooperation the
'ricklayers and contractors cannot
AVE regular and remunerative en-
,loyment.
Depression VIII Pass.
This Republic will emerge tri-
lmphant from this Industrial de-
or No ono do,l. +t,- W l