davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16
Truman Wants Rent
Control Extended
Beyond June 80

Washington-FP-A call for the
continuation Of rent control beyond
next June was sounded January S by
President Truman in his economic re-
port to congress.
Truman said that "a large increase
in rent would substantially reduce
purchasing power"
The president warned farmers that
the exceptionally high prices OF 1916
will fall somewhat as world food sup
plies increase and as consumers find
a more ample supply Of durable goods
to purchase. Existing price supports
afford protection against a severe
price decline"
AS to wages and prices. Truman de-
clared that business should reduce
prices wherever possible to boil
ster their markets" and that cuts
were especially needed in such goods
as food, clothing. house furnishings
and building materials. whose prices
have risen out of line
Labor on its part, must recognize
that high volume at low costs and low
prices requires high productivity and
the absence Of restrictions on produc-
ton lie said that labor, for its own
advantage should refrain from de-
mands for excessive wage increases
that would require price increases or
prevent price reductions that are nee
essary to sell the capacity output Of
the product
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16
AID FOR
ScH00LSASkED
BY TEACHERS

Chicago. = The national executive
council of the American Federation of
Teachers meeting in Chicago recently
has released a statement calling on
all educational and labor organiza-
tons to continue active support for
federal aid to education during the
forth coming session of congress-.
"Clamor for a general reduction in
income tax rates is not realistic de-
clared the executive council. 1T does
not take into account the pressing
need for an adequate program of fed
eral aid for education. Unless such
a program is enacted the present
crisis in education will be ~deepened.'
The councils statement pointed out
that in the face Of general price in
creases in excess Of 400 the proper
ton of the national income going to
the support of public education has
fallen from three percent to less than
two percent.
Failure OF localities and states to
cope satisfactorily with the finan-
cial needs Of education was cited
as conclusive evidence Of the need
for federal aid.
The council stated that tax reduc-
tons should be made contingent on
needs for national defense, health,
welfare, education and other services.
The council declared that If and when
such tax reduction proves possible,
they should begin by raising income
tax exemptions to at least $1,000 for
a single person, $500 for a married
couple and not less than $500 for each
dependent.
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16
Fri T0TAkE PART
IN new RADIO
SERIES

President a. +. Whitney this week
announced participation by the Bro
therhood in a new series of network
broadcasts designed to present a cross
section of Informed opinion on major
economic and social issues confront
ing the nation.
The program. known as Gross Sec
ton USA". was launched January 4,
and Will continue every Saturday at
100 pm. MIST. for 80 weeks over a
national lookup of the Columbia
Broadcasting System.
Nine Of the nations most prominent
labor, management and agricultural
organizations are collaborating in the
series. Included in the group are the
American Farm Bureau Federation,
American Federation of Labor, Y. S
Chamber of Commerce. Congress OF
Industrial ORGANIZATIONS. National AS
ISOLATION of Manufacturers. National
Farmers Union, National Grange and
the brotherhood of Railroad Train
men.
Last year CHS gave two such pro
grams and the favorable comment re
ceived from the effort encouraged the
network to Il continuation of the work
to give Americans a nor comprehen
sive and authentic picture of existing
conditions. Do not fail to tune in OF
your CHS hook-up each Saturday a
Zoo pm.
Pass this information on to the 9th
er members of your union and YOU
friends.
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16
NO SHORTAGE OF
PROFITS IN as

Chicaeo.-tFPl-Whither goes the
dough we pay for meat. soap and
shortening? The answer is dribblinp
out now as the big meat packers re
~luctantly turn loose their profit state
ments for the fiscal year 1916.
Armour & Co. II of the four big
gest meat packing corporations. re
vealed here January 6 the fantastic
fact that their profits in the fiscal
year ending November . zoomed more
than 30oct over the previous year tc
reach a total of S30.291.l2S. The yeal
before they cleared a mere $9,172.53S
The Cudahy Co. earlier reported
that on the sales of 12lt less meat
last year il had increased its profits
almost 81 million e fiscal 1915
Swift & Co. made S. million NOR
in profits in the fiscal year ending
October 20 than it did the preceding
year. although tonnage Of sales
dropped 11G.
Perhaps frightened by the implica
tons its report might carry to a price
squeezed public. Armour in its finan
cial statement FASTENED to explain
that only 32ct of the total net earn
ings came from meat. although do
nestle meat operations represented
G1's of total sales.
The bulk Of the profits, Armour
c%ontended. came from the sale Of
meat ~by-products like shortening. oil
SOAP. glue. ammonia. fertilizer ant
leather. 1t might be noted in passing
that these items were in ever shorter
supply in the past year than meat
and the prices have also skyrocketet
accordingly.
Guarding against a possible decline
in food prices in the coming year. The
company has set aside a special re
serve OF S9.5O0.00o to cushion the
shock.
For the information of those who
contend price rises must accompan,
wage raises, the company reported
that Of each dollar spent, 'i.12c Wen
for raw materials. livestock, dairy ant
poultry products and supplies. Wages
and salaries accounted for only 12.70c
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16


Whereupon Mr.. Stocks and
Bonds turns right around and
sells securities that are guaran-
teed to pay off because the
company has a monopoly in
the field and there is no COM
petition.
That's one of the biggest hooks in
Mr.. S. & BIS story. This is 1916. not
1860. Manufacturers may have been
competing to beat the band back in
Grandpaw's day. but monopoly. not
competition, is the main characteristic
of American business today.
One producer, or a handful. control
the market. If any small independent
tries to get out of line and set his
own price, the big boys have enough
capital to undersell him till he goes
broke: or they can simply shut off
his supply of essential machinery,
parts and raw materials until the
brave Independent says uncle
Here's what the Smaller War
Plants Corp. uncovered in its recent
study of U. s.. monopoly. one tenth
of one per cen of all corporations own
or control SO per cent of the total cor
porate assets of the country; less thar
four per cent of all manufacturers
earned 81 per cent OF all net profits
of manufacturing corporations.
Free Enterprise, Love You!
The study shows the following
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16
GE FACING PAIR OF
anti TRUST
CHARGES

Schenectady, n. Y.-tFP)-General
Electric Co. is entering the new year
with two antitrust suits logging its
footsteps and more to come.
Final arguments will be heard Jan
uary Is in U. S. circuit court in Tren-
ton. n. j., on the Justice departments
Indictment Of gle for conspiring
through a monopoly to set prices Of
lamps.
A few days later the trial of GE
under criminal indictment for con-
spiracy with Krupp of Germany to set
the price and control distribution of
tungsten carbide will begin in U. S.
circuit court in New York.
The two trials are only part Of sew
eral government cases against GE for
violating the sherman and Clayton
antitrust acts. Similar charges are
pending against Westinghouse Elec-
trio Co.
Commenting on the federal actions,
Russ Nixon. Washington representa-
tive Of the United Electrical Radio &
Machine Workers tCIOD, said the con
c%entration of economic power in the
field Of production Of gle was ire
%mendous.
"GE and Westinghouse produce
SOC of all the nations incandescent
lamps he pointed out, "GE, West
i%nghouse. General Motors and Nash
kelvinator produced $500 of all refrig-
orators in the L. S. in 1871. In 1910
gle made 221t of all the flat.irons.
GE and Westinghouse produce SIG
of all electric water heaters. gle,
Westinghouse and General Motors
produce 70T OF all electric ranges"
Ten corporations account for two.
thirds Of the total disable facilities in
the electrical machinery industry. he
said. The biggest five companies
with one-third Of all the facilities in
order Of Importance are gle, Wrestling.
house, American Telephone g. Tele-
graph, Radio Corp. Of America and
General Gable.
The only way these monopolies
are interested in free competition .
Nixon said, lis to pay it lip-service
as an argument against wage in
! creases.'
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16
Electric Shavers

One mans electric shaver may be
another mans poison. Consumers IN
ion found in tests Of seven brands.
The make that n man finds irritat-
ing may give another man a very sat
isfactory shave. Some users claim
that an electric shaver is less irritat-
ing than razor blades while others
lust can't use one at all. even after
irving each and all brands. The one
point on which there is general agree
ment is that for most people not even
the best electric shaver gives as close
a shave as an ordinary safety razor
with a good blade. Gu recommends
that an electric shaver be bought in
a store that carries several brands,
with the understanding that it a be
exchanged or the purchase price will
be refunded within a reasonable trial
period.
In rating electric shavers. Gu re-
commends only the order in which
the shavers should be tried by pros
pective purchasers. The first two to
try are New Remington Foursome IS
with Blue Streak Head, $3.50, which
seemed all around the best. and Sun
beam shavemaster RG, S16.7O, which
gave the closest shave.
Dentifrices
If you believe in ads. just one brush
inc with ha correct Qpntifrice will
change you from Mr.. Hyde to DR.
Jekyll. If you take the word OF Con
sumers Union dental consultants, al
a dentifrice can do is make the brush
ing Of teeth a pleasanter chore than
it would otherwise be and give the
tooth brush some slight aid In pol
ishing the tooth surfaces.
Among the best buys in tooth
paste are Scientific Brand zoos, 13c;
Spearmint, &c; The Fair. zoe; DR..
Kyle's, lac; Filene's Own Dental
Cream for Massaging the Gums, 19c;
in tooth powders. Mays, Ale; Lab
ratest, 44c: Wards Cat. No. 1927, zoe;
DR.. Browns, 23c; Coop, 25c, and Pro
phy-lac-tic, 23c.
BaIl-Point Pens
You can get q reasonably good ball
point pen if you are willing to pay the
price. Competition has reduced prices
generally but the three ball-point pens
rated highest by Consumers Union are
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16
The Child Killer

Add up the total number Of child
hood deaths each year from infantile
paralysis, whooping cough, diphtheria,
scarlet fever, measles and meningitis.
Multiply the heart rending sum by
five. The awful total is still less thar
the number Of children dying each
year from rheumatic fever and rheu-
matte heart disease.
Rheumatic fever is far and away
the most menacing child killer and
child crippler in America. 1t causes
geo of all heart disease in children.
1t is the leading cause of all deaths
during school years. There are today
an estimated one million sufferers
from rheumatic fever. actually more
than the total number Of tuberculosis
cases.
The disease is most common in the
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16
YOUR DOLLAR
still in the $3.50 to SIS bracket
EVERXTH/NG ON LAEVR. "

still in the $3.50 TO So bracket.
At best, b~all-poini pens will write
easily though without much charac-
ter, will make carbon copies, write fol
{. long time without refilling and re
quire no blotting. Gus examination
showed a high percentage Of samples
which would either not write at all
or wrote SO erratically that they could
not be considered acceptable even fol
occasional use.
The best Of the ball-point pens test
ed was the Sheaffer ~Stratowriter al
$3.50 plus 20 per cent tax. Among
lower priced pens which were fairly
good were Fieldston Retract-o. sos;
Blythe, S2.9S; Bedell, S5.95.
Some Postwar Cameras
Consumers Union tests show a nun
Der of inexpensive camera which are
as good as their prewar counterparts
and which will give reliable perform
ance. In the higher price ranges. CT
found faults of design and workman
ship. some serious enough to make
the cameras valueless. One new fea
ture in many of the more expensive
cameras is the coated lens. which re
duces reflections from lens surfaces
ghost images and glare.
Among inexpensive cameras, CT
found acceptable in box types the
Brownie Target Six-20. $500: Baby
Brownie Special, S1S5 and Brownie
Reflex, Synchro Model. $3.50; in fold
J ing cameras, Kodak Vigilant SiX-20
s22.3O.
YOUR DOLLAR is a regular month
ly feature. The facts and opinions ar
based on Consumer Reports, tn
monthly magazine of Consumers Ur
ion, II Union Square. New York !,
N. y. a non-profit organization who's
main object is to safeguard buyers b.
testing and reporting on consumer
goods.
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16

fields land some othersl to be domi-
mated by one or Il few companies.
steel. aluminium, copper, agricultural
implements. refrigerators. sewing ma
chimes. washing machines. electric
motors, automobiles. rubber tires. pc
troleum. chemicals. meat packing.
liquor, sugar, cereal products, tobacco.
aircraft. Quite a list,
Except for agriculture. clothing and
a few fringe industries like radio
manufacturing, there is no free COM
petition in America.
One Of the arguments against price
controls was that they should be lift
ed SO more producers would be ell
couraged to enter the field on account
of the higher profits possible. What
mockery is this. All the major fields
of production are so tightly under the
thumb of monopoly that a newcomer
couldn't get in even with a letter of
introduction from his pastor. An illus
wtration is Henry Kaiser's futile at
tempt to break into bigtime steel man
ufacturing. Even Kaiser is peanuts to
the steel monopoly which can crush
him like a beetle any time it's ready.
1t has been claimed that high prices
are partially or wholly due to short
lagos, which in turn are due to insult
ficient capacity or lack of raw mater
ials. Here Big Business plays on the
known fact that the war destroyed or
c~urtailed certain sources of raw ma
~terials in war-torn countries.
Productive capacity, however. in
Creased enormously during the war.
And it is found IN examination that
most shortages" are really artificial
devices of monopoly to maintain or
increase prices by throttling supply.
Madame Big Business
For a while full page ads against
OPA featured the slogan Let the
housewife set the prices The facts
of monopoly make it plain that this
argument is Big Business. disguised
in an apron, waving a shopping list
and claiming to be a housewife" An
organized. nationwide campaign of
consumers against !iigh prices would
have considerable effect on prices.
Monopoly organization must be met
with peoples organization. But it will
not come Of itself. as Big Business
pretends.
Supply and demand is a catch
phrase. a trap to snare the unwary, a
cover-up for the method by which
monopoly becomes richer and strong
err and the working mar becomes
poorer. supply and demand" is Big
Business description of the system
under which they control the supply
and you, with your demand, either pay
their price or-do without. Or. as
someone put it: "Hurrah for me, and
to hell with YOU
One answer for Supply and demand
is democratic and progressive gov
eminent regulation of the prices of
the necessities of life. food. clothing,
housing and medical care. Another an
swer is a straightforward program
OF curbing and controlling the power
of monOpOly-and we don't mean the
present administrations program of
prosecuting unions of working fisher
men under the slogan of trust bust
ing"
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16
Lynching Bill
Introduced

Washington-FP-A bill TO make
lynching u federal offense and punish
not only actual members Of a lynch
mob but also any officers or employees
Of a state or governmental subdivision
for neglect Of duty has been introduc-
ed in the house by Rep. Adam Powell
ID, n ".
Punishment is set at Imprisonment
NJ to five years or a fine Of not owe
$1,000, or both.
The Powell bill authorizes the Y. S.
attorney general to Investigate lynch
ings and ii makes mandatory the pay
ment OF from 81, 900 to $4,000 to the
next-to.kin OF the victim. The money
would come from the treasury Of the
city, township or county in which the
lynching occurred.
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16
THE FIGHT FOR HEALTH

north and east. 1t does its work in
cold, damp homes, in overcrowded
tenements. in Stun areas hidden from
the bright sunlight. Upper income
groups + by no means immune, but
rheumatic fever is mostly a disease
of poverty and Of wretched living con
ditions.
What is rheumatic fever? Not toe
much is known about it, which is one
reason it is such an uncontrolled men
ace. Here is a sad example of the
need for planned research in this
country.
More Should Be Spent On
Study Of Fever
Millions of the public's money, de
rived largely through the March OF
Dimes appeal, are spent on polio eacl
year. Rheumatic fever makes bed
ridden invalids and semi-cripples jus
as surely as wasted muscles ant
bones, and death IS much more Otter
the outcome. Yet scarcely $780, 900
a year is spent on its study.
1t is known that some type of germ
enters the body and sets up an in
lection which causes acute illness. fire
quent relapses, long invalidism OF
early death. Usually a severe sore
throat sets the stage for the rheu
matte infection. which begins a few
weeks later with all the signs of seri
Gus fever.
The bones and join may be pain
fully affected as in arthritis. the skin
may show a peculiar rash, or the dis
ease may take the form of "St. Vitus
Dance Far too often the heart il
damaged. and then the most tragi,
part of the disease begins.
About SOC of all rheumatic chill
dren have heart disease within tel
years after the onset Of the infection
and 2o', die within that time. Wit
good treatment milder cases, however
recovery can be complete.
After the early acute siege, the dis
ease may become chronic and requir,
long months in hospitals and conval
escent homes. occurrences Of tn
acute disease are frequent in youth
full years. Children with rheumatic
fever often show signs Of interfel
ence with growth and nutrition. beinI
sickly. pale and easily tired.
Rest Is Mainstay To Cure Fever
Treatment consists mostly of res
in bed The modern sulfa drugs an
penicillin are able to control nor
and more of the st%reptococcus throa
infections that precede rheumati
fever. There are also the usual PAL
killing and fever relieving medicines
and the regular treatments for hear
failure. But rest and nursing car
until all signs of rheumatic activit
have gone are still the mainstays 0
the doctors program.
Since the course is such a long one
it is all important that school wor'
be carried on with the sick children
that pleasant occupations and trainin
for special types of work be laugh
those invaded by the heart disease
The proper management of rhel
matte fever is expensive and compile,
II calls for far more social organize
ton of clinics, hospitals. and conva
escent homes. and of specialists
nurses, social workers, and teachers
than is available today.
II calls for a nationwide healt
insurance program through whic'
every worker can be sure Of needle
medical attention for his family. ]
calls for real union progress towar
higher wages, more social security
and better homes.
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16

II men would consider not so much
wherein they differ, as wherein they
agree, there would be far less of I'M
charitableness and angry feeling in
the world.-Addison.
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16
How High Should Our Taxes Be?

How much taxes should we pay?
Experts disagree N the size of the federal budget IN the post
war period. Their estimates ange from l6 billion to 2s billion dollars
Interest on the federal debt alone will be almost as much a the fed
eral budget of prewar years.
How hard will the taxes pinch us? Surprisingly. even though they
will be higher. they need not be nearly a much of a burden as they
were before the war,
The real question is, How high will taxes be in relation to the
total national income? It's easy to se that when federal taxes were
half what they r today, they were harder to bear because the nation
al income was only onethird its present size.
The way to manage III tax bill, without an excess of pain, then,
is to keep the national income high. Taxes should be high enough to
pay for the necessary services of the government, without depressing
the purchasing power of the people.
standards:
Remove federal wartime excise taxes Ctaxes Oh consumer goods.
Raise income tax exemption or reduce rates drasucaly in lower
income brackets.
Drop liquor and tobacco taxes $ major providers of revenue.
Substantial increase in revenue from estate and gift taxes.
1t is believed by most tax economists that excise taxes and income
taxes o the lower incomes cut down the consumption of essential
goods. doing harm to the economy and to the people
A good tax program is one that encourages consumption.
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16
Supply And Demand Fixed
Prices In 1860, Today
It's Monopoly
By DON STOFLE For Federated Press

The man in the stocks and bonds office tells me that prices
are set by supply and demand It's like this, he says: IF a
manufacturer sets the price of his product too high, nobody
will buy from him. Some other manufacturer will sell at prices
people will pay. Competition will always force prices down
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16
OUR TAX PROBLEM
BY ARTHUR A. ELDER. ALL Tax consultant

Virtually all the states in the union have enjoyed unparalleled
prosperity in their governmental finances during the war. In this they
have been far more fortunate than the average local governments
AS the income has piled up in the state treasures, and rs govern
ors have taken credit for these accumulatons which ar really 10
the war. two questions have arisen: Should more Ia revenues D mace
available to our large cities and metropolitan areas, and what proVf
sons should be maue against future difficulties when the current pros
perity fades?
In many states. the cities whose income has not increased apl'e
Gladly. have put up a tremendous clamor for a share oil the sta'e sur-
pluses BY and large. state politicians have resisted this demand
state legislatures. in some states. have in their turn. approved amend
ments to the L. :. Constitution limiting income taxes to a top rate OF
% per cent.
We can se in this picture the tremendous competition among ne
various levels of government The federal government obviously las
the broadcast taxing power. the states the next and TIT local govern
ments the least satisfactory.
Yet, services must be provided at all levels and the local services,
in particular. include some of the most important, such a $ education
police and fire protection. and health services.
State revenues, way up now, are sure TO decline III eaher years
when they will be most needed, Local revenues cannot now, III many
places. cover the increased cost of the old services. much less ada
the e services and public works that are 81 badly needed
A solution that must commend itself to the serious attention OF
trade unionists is the levying of a graduated income tax by the led
eral government S is to permit revenue sharing by states and local
tiles O the equitable basis. This would assure all participation of all
three levels of government in income tax revenue and would do much
to eliminate competition in the tax field between states.
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16

DEMAND THE UNION LABEL!
Montana labor news., 1947-01-16

DEMAND THE UNION LABEL