The Carbon County news., 1931-08-20
BUMPED AGAIN

Helena people and their guests were bumped again
when the price of gasoline jumped last Saturday to
"A CENTS which is four cents per gallon higher than the
price in Butte The small service station the depot,
established by citizens continues to sell for % cents,
but for this station Helena would be paying 26 even
as high q cents while Butte, without the Independent
stations in that city would likely be paying % centsal
ways from two to four cents under the Helena price
Various explanations have been offered for this dis
elimination against Helena but of them accept
ed sound by any reasonable person. The last one
offered The Independent came from attorney in Den
and officer of of the largest oil companies dis
rbuting in Montana He explained that Helena did not
as much gas III the winter months III the warm
weather season. so they had to collect more for gasoline
in this city during the months in order to keep
their filling stations open from November to April
Apparently, 1t daWned that Denver lawyer
that it would be perfectly satisfactory Helena auto
mobile drivers if they closed their filling stations in the
winter if they closed half Of their stations at
We could still find place two to buy gasoline and
perhaps if had to drive few blocks to obtain gas
olne for the price the motorists OF Butte we
would gasoline in the winter -
few weeks ago eastern packing company got into
fight with the butchers union in Butte. Their smoked
meats boycoed by the unions Promptly the east
en packers reduced their prcesham low IA cents
per pound and bacon low as Il cents.
Immediately the price went up in Helena, as high as
So cents asked by retailers for the Identical brand
and quality of ham being sold in Butte for IA cents To
day the eastern packers soaking Helena and other
communities to pay for the ham and bacon which
they staged in Butte. Helena people driving to Butte
bought hams and bacon 1t is suspected that some OF
OF the dealers here who then getting "A to 80 cents
for eastern ham, buying it at retail In Butte at IA
cents or about 10 cents cheaper than they could
buy from the eastern packers The business OF smoked
meat Helena has been emorazed by the unfair prac
tces of the eastern packers, yet Helena people go right
ahead demanding their products not because they are
any better than meats cured III Montana, but
because they just dare the dealers to charge them toe
much for eastern products-hey afraid their neigh
bors would see Montana ham being delivered to thell
Kitchens
The federal trade commission is supposed to prevent
if possible and punish if necessary firms and corpor
ations guilty of unfair trade practices and discrimin
ations between markets similarly located What's th
matter with prosecuting oil companies for the dis
elimination against Helena? What isl the reason th
federal government is not prosecuting the eastern pack
inc house which attempted to ruin the small packers
Montana by making runous price for ham and bacol
in Butte?
Oh the government is too busy prosecuting Vostea'
act volaors to be concerned with outfits which rob tn
people openly and brazeny!- The Helena Independent
The foregoing editorial applies to Red Lodge and e7
erv other town in Montana This condition will con
tinue to exist as long as the buying public continues
accept these exorbtant prices without making protest
The people of Red Lodge do not have to accept thes
exorbtant prices on gas the remedy could be eas
solved by the installation of a community filling sta
ton and sell gasoline at legitimate price,
NOW rs THE TIME TO DECLARE WAR!