San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-15
WAGE BOOSTS
WILL AFFECT
us. BUSINESS
Increased Buying Power Of
Workers to Be Felt
Immediately.
SUGAR PRICES STRONG
Gasoline Consumption
Establishes Some New
High Records.
SUGAR PRICES STRONG
BY j.. c. R0YLE

New York, April 1.-THE wage
advance announced by the United
States Steel Corporation, although it
does not go into effect until next
week. has already had far-reaching
effect on business and industry.
This effect was heightened today
by the overnight announcement that
some 100000 packing house employees
would start drawing additional pay
beginning Monday.
The announcement was not unex-
pected. this column having frequently
pointed out that the growing COM
petition among Employers to retain the
workers they have and to obtain adj
ditoianal labor pointed to higher wages
in many lines of industry.
Merchants have already begun to
count and spend the additional sums
expected from consumers through the
increased buying power of workers.
Employees have begun to spend the
wage increase in advance and workers
in other lines of industry are prepar-
ing 10 make requests for increases
which shall not be less extensive than
those accorded the steel workers.
The wage committee of the Anal
gamated Association Of Iron, Steel and
Tin Workers have already voted TO
ask for an increase of from 10 to 20
per cent for all iron and steel workers.
Bonus Is Offered.
One of the difficulties OF the labor
situation. which is becoming acute
in scores of industries, is exemplified
by the fact that one steel company in
Pennsylvania is offering a bonus of
10 per cent to those workers who
work every day throughout. the month.
Sweepers in New Jersey factories
are being paid 60 cents an hour and
pick and shovel men in many sec
tons are being paid wages equally
high or higher.
The most glaring danger signal on
the business highway today, however,
is the slackening of courtesy and fall
ing off in service. noticeable among
statesmen. This is not confined to
retail clerks although it is most man
fest in the retail stores.
s'dANNiuth dit W
nose tilted take it or leave it" at
titude which prevailed in the inflated
periods of 1910 and 1920. Travelling
men are beginning to lean against the
cigar counter and boast loudly Of sales
and even some of the merchants.
wholesale and retail are beginning to
allude TO buyers as 'boobs."
The more far-sighted merchandisers.
however, have not forgotten that a
similar attitude. combined with high
prices, produced a buyers strike in
1920, which acted on the cash regis
tiers like 4 maxim silencer and they
are fighting to force the employees to
sell service and courtesy as well as
! goods.
, Sugar prices are showing increased
strength. Consumers who have held
off in the hope that governmental
probes would induce lower prices are
flocking back to the market and Of
fering premiums for quick deliveries.
The Great Western Sugar Company,
leading beet sugar refiner. has adj
vanced prices of graduated TO $50
! cents q pound and the completion of
grinding by 81 of the 49, Cuban
mills with outputs well under esti-
mates. has had Strengthening effect
on the market.
| Wool Prices Hold Firm.
Fifty cents pound is being freely
paid for some of the Western wool
! clips and the market for wooden
cloths is so strong that mills are
held at the top notch of production.
Cotton cloths have eased in price
and emand and it is possible that some
mills will cease ali overtime work
after May l.
| Silk prices are at their highest in
three years and the demand for fin
ished products is heavier than for
many seasons.
| Farm labor is in acute demand both
here and in Canada and across the
border the Canadian railways have
announced substantial reduction in
immigrant fares as soon as navigation
| opens on the st. Lawrence to stim.
ulate movement TO the farms.
Consumption of gasoline is estab.
fishing ne WHICH records, the outturn
Of automobiles continues at record
figures, the largest maker of engines,
the Continental Motor Corporation, is
about TO advance prices on one or two
engine models and tire requirements
bid fair to reach the reccrd-breaking
total OF 100000 castings for the
year.