The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-07-10
Profteering On1Sorrow .

teries in Missouri alone, with about
100 of them controlled by single
profit-making corporation with head
quarters in Kansas City. Profits from
sale of cemetery lots, conducted by
high-pressure methods, go to the prof
it-taking promoters"
PROTECTIVE MEASURES BEING
UNDERTAKEN
Obviously "profiteering in sorrow"
is a vast heartless funeral rack
et." Is anything being done to free
bereaved people from it's clutches?
Unfortunately, not very much so
far, but some moves are being made
in that direction. The Cooperative
League of the U. S. A. recently asked
the Federal Trade Commission, Uncle
Sans Business Policeman" to "con-
duct public hearings into the various
phases of the burial industry"
In letter to the F.T.C., Jerry
Voorhis, League secretary and former
congressman from California, said
"the Leagues own Investigations have
uncovered unethical practices by I'M
dertakers and other in the industry.
In Detroit, for example, the regular
practice is to make cost of funerals
dependent on the cost of caskets. This
is done by multiplying the cost of
caskets by 3.8, to arrive at the cost
of the funeral, regardless of the fact
that the actual funeral services pro-
vided were the same in each case.
UNIONS MOVE TO PROTECT
MEMBERS
"In an effort to cut such costs for
it's Detroit MEMBERS" Voorhis said,
"the United Automobile Workers have
succeeded in getting an arrangement
with some undertakers, whereby a
flat amount is paid for professional
services, regardless of the type of
casket used.
GAS a result, costs of the first 25
funerals performed under this ar
have been cut by an av-
erage of 1863"
The international Association of
Voorhis told the F.T.C.,
is keenly interested in protecting it's
members and their families against
the funeral racket" and is "press-
ing the ETC. for early action on
burial price rigging"
For many years, especially in rural
areas, the Cooperative League says,
burial co-ops have been formed to
cut the cost Of caskets and other SER
vices. An increasing number of la
Dor unions have become interested in
this field as service to their men,
bers.
Gin West frankfort, Illinois, costc
of funerals for victims of the mine
blast there were cut dramatically by
the Mine Workers burial coop. This |
was in sharp contrast to the extor-
tomato burial costs charged families
Of the victims of the 1947 mine blast
at Centralia, H., where no burial
coop was in the field"
UP TO FEDERAL
COMMISSION
Voorhis' letter was welcomed by |
John Carson, an Independent Repub-
ican member of the ETC. Carson
said: "Voorhis is right. In proposing
an investigation of the funeral rack
ct, Voorhis may be opening the door
to the finest public service our COM
mission can do EM
Carson, however, has suddenly
ceased to be member of the ETC.
President Eisenhower ousted him, and |
in his place appointed Edward F.
Howrey, a Washington lawyer-lobby-
st who for many years has been an
advocate of private business inter
ssts. Howrey now is chairman of the
ETC.
The question now is: "Will How
'ey give the go-ahead signal for a
probe of 'profiteering in SORROW" or
will he clamp the lid of secrecy on
he funeral racket"