The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-08-28
YOUR DOLLAR
By CONSUMERS UNION
WORK SHIRTS

WORK SHIRTS
It's hard to get a good work shirt,
Consumers Union found in tests Of
43 brands, ranging in price from 74c
to $1.79. More than half the samples
shrank so badly that they could not
be worn comfortably after washing.
Six of these were marked Sanforizedi
lTwenty-four brands were skimped one
to five inches in the chest; 13 were
an inch or more short in the arm
hole. Only IL of the 43 brands had
correct collar measurements.
Most Of the shirts were lacking In
needed reinforcements, and only four
had the number of stitches per inch
called for in federal specifications for
work shirts.
| Price bore little relationship to
quality. Two shirts at around $1.25
came out the highest, although many
more expensive brands were included
in Gus tests Shirts were tested for
| fit, design, workmanship, instability
and durability. The Best Buys as
listed in this months issue of Con-
sumner Reports were: Hale Bros. Dou-
BILE Duty (Chambray SLID; Sears
Hercules Cat. No. 622 (Chambray
$1.25 plus POSTAGE; Wards Cat No.
1888 (Chambray 74c plus postage).
The first two mentioned were high
est quality of all shirts tested.
The following are union made, I'M
der contract with the United Garment
Workers (AFL): Oshkosh BGosh,
Lee, The Brave Man, Headlight,
Sweet-Orr. The following is union
made under contract with the Anal
gamated Clothing Workers (CIO):
Melton.
SMALLER BUT WISER
Too many people have the impress
sion that pretty soon therell be hard
ly an ygoods to buy, and that there
fore intelligent choice will be impossi-
ble That's long way from the
truth Most of the consumer goods
no longer manufactured are in the
luxury class. Products in the field
of food, clothing and shelter have
been hit much less, and these basic
needs will continue to be met no mat
ter how sharply civilian consumption
is cut
There will continue to be numerous
conflicting brands and claims. Quail
ity will fall rapidly, but not evenly,
among the brands, so that lit will
make a decided difference which
brand you buy; even small savings
will be vital, weighed against increas-
ing taxes; and as goods are rationed,
it will be doubly necessary to get
durable products because they will
have to last longer.
MAIL ORDER INsURANcE-II
Many workers buy mail order life
insurance because it requires mo
medical examination" But this no.
INSTRUMENTATION feature is pretty
much of a fake. For in effect, the
medical examination is not elimi-
mated, but postponed until after death.
In taking out a typical mail order
policy, the client is required to state
hat neither he, nor any member of
he family group insured, has or has
ever had any disease of the brain or
nervous system, heart or lung, cancer
II tumor of any kind, vertigo, hernia,
rheumatism, tuberculosis, goiter, or
my other disease or infirmity." After
leath the company can usually deter
nine by questioning the physician or
hospital records whether
" not the statement of sound health
vas true. If it was untrue, the policy
s void and no payment need be made.
Yet, many persons sign such a state
nent in good faith.
Even is the insured person was in
ound health, and the company has
10 excuse to hold up payment, it fire.
uently is able to settle for less than
he amount due. Mail order insur-
nee companies, though licensed by
My one state, do business in many
tates. Most of their clients live out
ide the company's home state. If
hey don't like the way their claims
re handled, they must travel to the
ONE state and file suit. Since the
mount of insurance is usually small,
IS often cheaper to accept any set
ement offered than to go through
40 expensive court procedure.
YOUR DOLLAR is a regular
monthly feature. The facts and
opinions given are based on Con-
sumers Union Reports, the month
ly magazine of Consumers Union,
IL Union So. W., New York, a =
non profit organization whose
main object is to safeguard buyers
by testing and reporting on con-
sumner goods. Note especially the
information under which products
are made.