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Show THE SEARCHLIGHT Che Searchhight’s Political Uiews With Maw the announcement today by Governor that he will seek re-election, and ous announcement of Senator the previ- Child, it is ap- parent that a strenuous gubernatorial campaign will be waged. In that contest the Searchlight will be opposed to the renomination of Dr. Maw. Under the circumstances, and because of this publication's attitude on. matters of social secur ity, collective bargaining, and wage problems, it 1s appropriate to re-state its position. The views expressed by this publication are Wage Background (Continued from preceding page) up’ has been most clearly visible, but it is a factor also in the case of house furnishings, food, and even housing. “3. The effect of quality deterioration’, which has been very marked during this period, is almost completely neglected by the BLS. strictly those of its editor. may not coincide with Those views may or the views, policies of any organization. or with the The views of this publication are not subject to the control of any organization. It speaks only for itself. may agree or disagree, as they choose. The political comment Readers of the Searchlight in the campaign ahead will be based upon news as the editor interprets that news, and upon information compiled by this paper or by others whose reliability it does not question. produced stores and such pressure other on facilities limited that housing, prices have been driven up faster than in the more ble metropolitan areas. Our findings staare conservative for the reason that they do not take this factor case of rent. into account, except in the “It should be emphasized that all the errors and inadequacies of the BLS Index are IN THE SAME DIRECTION: they all underState the price rises which have occurred is based on returns from only 34 of the largest cities (56 in the case in Retail price changes prices). of food since January, 1941. The cumulative character of the deficiencies of the Index underlines its inadequacy as an accurate basis for these cities are not typical of price changes areas, because the congestion in all urban resulting from wartime military and industrial activity has been most serious in smaller cities. wage “4. “In “Every The such family Index areas, heavy in this area immigration is aware has of the de- terioration in the quality of clothing and _ the difficulty of obtaining good quality, reasonably priced children’s clothing, and men’s work clothes. adjustments.” The report of the labor members of the President’s Committee reveals that the BLS Index is seriously deficient in that it does not reflect the actual rise in the cost of living. The report dis closes a sinister effort to hide from the American public the actual facts pertaining to the rise in the cost of living. The failure of the Bureau of Labor Statistics to warn the people regarding the deficiencies of its Index; the deliberate omission from the Index Food items show the same tendency. In January, 1941, Salt Lakers could buy better quality milk at lle a quart than they now obtain for 15c. Cream has all but disappeared from the top of milk bottles or cartons. Indeed, one observant Salt Laker insists that local milk as a Keeley or Walgreen malt. is now as thin of important items of cost in the workers’ budgets, and the concentration by the OPA with rigid price control on the food items contained in the Bureau’s Index, while neglecting equal treatment for the food items which are not covered by the Index, can only be described as a most deceitful practice. " |