The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-07-17
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LETTERS OF ifRoTEsT AGAINST
HIGH RRic Ess sWAMPlNo THE 4
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS-. q.
AL CLASSES JOIN IN Wall

EALL CL4ssEs JOIN IN Wall
Wholesalers and Retailers AZ.
Charged With Profiteerina-lssue
Probably Will Have Great Effect. Of
the Elections Next FAIL. " ". HI
BY JAMES II. .HoRNApAY n In
! Wasldngton-The cos, of living Ii
up for discussion again. Members d
congress are disturbed by letters they
liare receiving in increasing numbers
from their Constituents prot estina
against present living conditions. Sen
4 ators as well as congressmen ]. DEMO.
i Gratis as : we'll as Republi rein
receipt of 7communicat ions, which come
from practically every section OF the
country. y The .complainants declare
{: I3that the pricesS2of necessariesaof life
are apprex imately as highs as during
1.-THE World war, Notwithstanding that
their. wages have. been reduced one
two. and in some instances three times
since the ending Of $hostilities. They
set forth that there has been a notice
liable upward trend in, the last few
months, and some make, ther flat
charge that wholesalers and retailers
In practically. all lines are guilty i5ot
lprofteering. Z They, apparently believe
4 that congress can control the situation
4 saying indeed, that unless official &C
i ton Is taken at, once new faces will
be seen in the house and senate after
the November elections. s;ssf SfEss%Hf
4 The protests, come from men and
women In every station OF life. The
day laborer complains that. with. his
wages reduced, It lis all he Can do to
feed and clothe those dependent upon
him. Men and women who are for
tunate, Or unfortunate enough to own
automobiles are incensed over the in
crease in the cost Of gasoline, which
they declare to be unwarranted. Even
the snalia1fa cturer has a chip on his
shoulder. For the moment he is dis.
lturbed over the pyramiding Of the cost
of coal and declares that, with prices
increasing, and reserve stocks dwind.
ling, TIE time Is not far distant when
plants will have to close and bad con.
EDITIONS will become worse. These are
only a few of the complaints; a COM
Iplete list would cover. printed page
and would deal with practically every
Commodity H., r. -. -, ~
Likely TO influence the Election.
Some congressman, who are having
as much difficulty in making both ends
meet as their constituents, have point
ed out that, unsatisfactory as are some
conditions at home, they are much
more serious abroad. The replies to
these letters are to the effect that the
people are interested in conditions in
America, not in Europe, that they. want
conditions improved and intend to see
that they are: improved. AS result
Of these communications, some mem.
Abers. of the house say. that issues OF
yesteryear between. the two dominant
parties will be pushed into the back
ground during the fall campaign, and
that the candidate who makes reduc-
ton In the cost Of living the most i'm
portant plank Of his platform will
stand the best chance of election.
That congress is awaking to- the sit,
.uation is evidenced by bills and reso-
buttons which members are introduc.
ing, by addresses in both branches, by
the taking Of legislative action and by
frequent calls Of members at the de.
partment Of justice. A senatorial In.
.vestigation Of the recent increasing
cost Of gasoline is about to get under
way Senators. strongly suspect that
the advance made in the price Of this
fuel Is unwarranted. They know that
the reserve stocks are exceptionally
large and representatives: of some of
the greatest companies in America will
be asked some sharp questions when
they appear before the !; committees.
The house las well as the ssenate is
up In arms ever the; recent: Alliances
in the price Of ibituminous coal. For
the time being they are leaving this
subject to Herbert G. Hoover, secre-
tary; Of commerce. II he succeeds in
controlling the situation, no action
will be taken on Capitol Hill. If he
fails "a resolution, Of inquiry viii be
offered and adopted. The investigat-
ing committee will obtain the peril.
tnent facts in the shortest time possi-
bile, according to- present plans, and
then will ask the department Of justice
to bring charges Of conspiracy against
certain operators, wholesalers and re-
tallers. .es~% 49,. - ,-.-:.s.es. al ! ,.s
congressman Themselves Distressed.
The members Of congress, as mat.
ter of fact, are having a hard time
keeping a jump or two ahead Of the
bill coliectors.4uA At least, this is true of
those members who must live upon
the salaries they are paid by the gov.
eminent. They are practically the
only class of people in the country
whose. salary has: not been, Increased
in the last decade. Time. was, when
member Of congress could live COM !.
fortably on $500 a year; he cannot
do it today. ., II ~. F.. + rs
+ nSit We're possible to collect tiie
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