South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-11-10
PRESENT FINDINGS
In LIVING COSTS
PROBE AT MEETING
Results of Rental Survey Also
Given at Realtors Asso-
citation Meet.


citation Meet.
History OF momentous conse-
quence TO the city OF south Bend was
made Wednesday when. for the first
time. representatives Of the various
Industrial and commercial activities
Of the city came together 20 Go their
thinking for the betterment OF the
city as a unified whole. The occa-
sion was the noon banquet OF the
local Realtors. az the y. ~ e.. a..
attended by so members Of the ReaI-
tors association. and leaders in other
lines OF activity The occasion was
marked by presentation Of a repor;
Of the general conference on Twins
costs conducted under the auspices
of ;he Chamber of Commerce.
A committee consisting of Miles ".
OBrien. Of the south Bend Lathe
Works, George Robertson, depart
ment store head. Edgar +. John
stOn. Of the firm OF Mack and John
ston. A Frank Eby OF Armour a
Co. David Fischgrund, retail store
owner. Dr. G.. A Lipp.ncott or the
Studebaker Corp. and Frank j.
Green. manager OF the Chamber OF
Commence. compiled the report
which dealt with comparative costs
of all commodities Of living as they
affect the home
The survey was made az the re-
quest Of manufacturers and various
employers OF labor. upon complaint
of their employees. with a view 20
learning just where South Bend
stood with respect to living costs.
With the complaints about costs
Of clothing. food and other staple
commodities there has been consid-
cradle complaint about rent by the
members OF the local real estate
board
Present Results,
In presenting the results obtained
by the joint conference. Frank j.
Green. manager Of the Chamber or
Commerce said: In approaching
this all important question we have
endeavored tO'emphasize those dehn-
tie items which enter into and large
~ are outstanding Living costs II
is very true the manufacture was
beset with a condition where he
knew il was absolutely necessary IN
the competition set up, that prices
Of his manufacture product must
be put on a new basis.
1T was therefore. absolutely as
sential TO make an adjustment ot
wages. / think all agree that this
adjustment he was met by the en-
the line. when ne made that re-
adjustment he was NEE by the en-
ploye Of South Bend, who said, we
cannot take this cut on account OF
living costs The manufacturer, NOT
knowing the facts locally and gain
ing his knowledge from what DE-
read in the newspaper that prices
had not come down and there was
no refiexion i'm the retail market
began 10 gather the impression that
there was not an equal basis Tie
wanted 10 know and placed the cards
on the table before US and said.
what do you know In MAJ OF
this year, during the strike of the
building trades survey was made
Of the materials, including the
mason work and all phases Of Twins
costs except rents.
AT that time we found there was
a depreciation in prices as compared
with the peak prices. Striking "a
general average there was "a definite
linn. fl.f.r
40 per cent from the accredited
normal year before the price infia-
ton. we took 1915 as a credited
normal year and made comparison
on all costs of living. mems clothing
and general lines Of dry goods. and
also checked prices oc building ma
terials We found there was a defn-
tie decrease"
Meat Prices low.
In meat the price ~ cattle Cu
the hoof today IS the same price
existed in 1914 The general aver
age Of meats today is seven and ono
half per cent lower than i'm 1915 In
south Bend. We are only thilkir-
in terms Of this city. Prices ~ th'
average lire Of groceries is = per
cent lower than in 1915
Manager Green in defense Of some
so-called high rents declared that in-
vestigation had proved that tenants
had many times misused properly az
landlords to such an extent il was
found necessary. in some instances,
20 raise rents i'm order 20 meet ex-
pense incurred through careless de-
errr4offon Of ur0uertr
He pointed out that south Bend
was an 50 per cent home owned
town IN 1919 and said he rather
doubted whether that ratio still was
maintained owing 20 the increased
population Of the pass year. lie
stressed the fact that IN many in-
stances Il was found that a very
high rental charge for rooms was
being exacted in the city and polnte1
out this became an increasing bur-
den when IL was realized a majority
OF houses in South Bend are nov
renting one or more rooms % new
corners IN the city.
The fact there was a marked de-
crease in the cost OF clothing ana
furnishings was cited by the speaker
in comparative figures which tended
70 show prices have been materially
lowered.