Detroit evening times., 1945-12-29

pANK DEPOSITS are up.
Sales are up There Is no
unemployment. indeed still
shortage of help everywhere. l
would say now, four months
after the Japanese capitulatlon,
the employment crisis of the
war had been relieved only 25
per cent. No competition in
labor is anywhere IN sight.
We are getting more food in
the stores than in some years.
but a peculiar situation has
developed about this. Although
some stock shortages are evi-
dent in every line in every
store, some dealers have been
hesitant about bringing up 10
the counter what they have in
the basement.
nURS is not a strong union
" town. We have no large
factories. Yet every one is talk
ing about the unions. and at
tributinc 10 their leadership
the new psychology everywhere
evident hcre-that of doing as
little work as possible and
charging as much for 1t as
possible.
The electrician and plumber
complain their Small-union men
just stand around and smoke
cigaretS eight hours a day,
ignoring work as much as
possible.
The men who own small buSi-
nesSeS must do, and are doing,
all their important work them
selves. No one else will carry
the work load. There is no
such category as the small busi-
ness executive here any more.
A FRIEND Of ours had to
"A stay overnight at a near
by town a few days back.
Arising with his wife. he asked
the innkecper where he could
get breakfast.
you cannot get il in this
town." the innkeeper replied.
His own dining room was
closed except for lunch and din
ner, because he could get no
one 10 work more than eight
hours, and said he could not get
sufficient help for two shifts.
There were six dining places
in the town. Each one was do
ing the same thing. Some
claimed they were closing be-
cause Of shortage Of points, but
you do not need points for
orange juice, eggs and coffee.
Local citizens said the reStau-
rants were all making so much
money with two meals, they all
Just lazily decided two were
enough TO serve the public My
friend went 20 miles before he
got his breakfast,
Some new businesses are
opening, with good service, try
ing TO establish themselves with
popular support and many old
ones particularly those dealing
IN autos, gasoline drugs, etc.).
have greatly improved their
service.
TT ALL seems to depend on
competition If there is COM
petition in a business, you get
a fair price and good service:
II not, the consumer is soaked.
l know landlord. for in
stance, renting a third floor
walk-up office for 500
month, He asked that the lease
omit the usual obligation 10
furnish janitor service as. dur
inc the help shortage, he vas
not sure he could keep his
lanltor or get a new one. The
lanllor was missing after the
third week of operations. The
tenant had 10 employ one at
$50 a month.
Now at expiration Of the
lease. the landlord uppcd the
rent S25. This meant - per
cent increase in rent in one
year. The tenant consulted his
lawyer found he could do Moth
ing but pay
As VIC have talked these
things over in Our Town tas
YOU no doubt have decided what
this country needs more than
anything else is a swift return
10 competition.
Housing must he started and
built 10 tho point where a citi-
zcn may move when gouged.
More goods and services must
be offered 10 tho point whore
the consumer may protect him.
self by choice.
Labor cannot continue IN
maintain a wage bidding monop-
oily any more than business,
but competition must be re-
stored there also.
We. in Orr Town. think this
Is the only way to stop infla-
tion.
tpiliribu'sd hv Kirr Features Syndicate.
reproduction ~ whole cr In part strictly
pfohioited }