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Show Saturdsty , Feb . 10, 1917 UTAH LABOR NEWS hotels and high-clagroceries at from 42 to 44 cents a dozen. One of the most expensive snd fashionable hotels in New York took some of them. Those which went to grocers were retailed by them at from 45 to 55 cents a dozen. The second grade, watery and shrunken, went to institutions, asylums, homes, etc,, for cooking, at 42 cents. The third grade, of those with cracked consisting shells, went to the pastry manufacturers; while the fourth, consisting of those which were actually rotten, were dosed with carbolic acid and sold to ss ONE FEATURE OF HIGH COST Boston Transcript Follows Egg From Soda to Hock With Startling Results SPECULATORS TAKE . COMFORTABLE PROFIT tanners. "Thus these eggs, which were purchased from the producers at a price which yielded the narrowest of profits, were withheld from use for nearly six months, and then, with their quality greatly deteriorated, were sold to consumers at about double the original" purchase price. Meantime they were sold and resold, back and forth, among speculative dealers, merely on paper, just as stocks are dealt in on Wall street in at least one case the transaction being on a margin. The farmer sold the eggs for less than 24 cents, and the city housekeeper bought them for 50 cents or more, and the difference went into the pockets of speculators. We may grant that some middlemen were necessary. But suppose that the Indiana company had sold the eggs to a New York wholesaler, he to retailers, and they to consumers. There would have been just four operations, with three intermediaries between producer and consumer. In this case there were no fewer than thirteen successive sales instead of four, and eleven instead of three inter- f 4 Everyone complains of the increasing cost of living which seems to affect everything that contributes to human life. Many theories are advanced as to reasons why, and as to remedies, but nothing is done, and the great mass of the people are constantly engaged in the almost hopeless effort of trying to make both ends meet In a recent issue, the Boston Transcript, an eminently respectful and conservative newspaper, under the title of "How Pood Is Made Costly, published the following editorial: "This is the story of a carload of eggs, and of its more than doubling in price. Incidentally, it is an illustration, taken from real life, of the manner In which the cost of the necessaries of life is often enormously increased to the consumer without any increase of remuneration to the producer, through artificial and arbitrary manipulation by a series of middlemen. The story begins ont at Decatur, Ind on June 8. The eggs, 311 cases, had Just been collected, quite fresh, from the adjacent henneries, by the Decatur Produce company. That concern had paid the poultry farmers something less than 24 cents a dozen for them, and on the day named it sold the lot to a wholesale merchant in New' York for 24 cents a dozen. He sent them to cold storage, A fortnight later, on June 25, an enterprising peddler bought them for 25 cents a dozen, on a small margin of 3218.25; but instead of hawking them around the streets as was his custom, he held them for a rise. He held them until September 8, and then resold them to the very merchant of whom he had bought them, for 29 cents a dozen, thus making a neat profit without handling or so much as even seeing the eggs. An hour later the same day the merchant again sold them to another dealer for 30 cents a dozen. "The eggs were now a little more than three months old, It having been Just three months since they had originally been collected and sold In a lump for the first time; but they were still rated as 'fresh eggs though gome say that this was through inadvertence. The latest dealer had them examined, with the result that they were pronounced not fresh but refrigerated seconds, He thereupon demanded that they be taken back by the merchant, at the same price, 30 cents a dozen. This was done, and the merchant became for the third time their owner, on October 10. Page Nina Eleven days later he sold them as refrigerated seconds to another wholesaler, at 31 cents. This dealer sold five cases to a jobber at 32 cents, and five more cents a to another jobber at 31 dozen, and the remainder of the carload to another wholesaler at the latter price. But the very next day, November 9, he bought them back at 32 cents. A few hours later he sold ten cases to a jobber at 32 cents, and the remaining 311 cases to another jobber at 32 cents. Four days later an egg caudler and seller to hotels and restaurants bought twenty cases at 34 cents, and two days later, on November 15, all the rest, 291 cases, at the same, price. These latter were left in cold storage for the winter trade. "The twenty cases which were taken cut of storage on November 13 were examined and divided into four grades. The best, at an age of between five and six months, were sold to mediaries. . In such circumstances it is not to be wondered at that the cost of living greatly increases. But it is idle and Impertinent to ascribe all of it to the war, to excessive exports, to the increased cost of poultry food, to the increase of Jfarm laborers wages, or to the demand of farmer for higher prices. None of these things had anything to do with the carload of eggs. The poultry farmers got no more for their eggs than they had got for years before. But a succession of middlemen put on addition after addition to the price, arbitrarily. They needed the money, and they thought that they could starve the public into paying it. That was the secret of this case, and It is the secret, we fear, of very many other similar cases. The above story of eggs may, no doubt, be repeated, in many of the other necessaries of life. It merely serves as an illustration to show that when the speculator is permitted to hold perishable foodstuffs while they deteriorate to the point of danger of health, the entire public ts made to be the commercial prey of these modern pirates. There is much talk of abolishing the middleman. It would seem as though the first step should he to eliminate the speculator, who has no legitimate stake in the game, but simply trades on all other peoples necessities for a dirty profit. CONGRESS OVERRIDES PRESIDENTS VETO President Wilsons veto of the immigration' bill because of the literacy test provision, w'as disapproved by both the House and Senate and the measure now becomes a law with the provision advocated by the organized workers for more than twenty years remaining intact. It now only remains for the United States Supreme court to declare the measure unconstitutional, xwhich it no doubt will do If the opportunity is afforded that body to pass on the question. At least that has been the system in vogue in the past when the working people were successful in getting legislation favorable to them and there is no reason to expect the supreme court to perform any differently than it has in the past. Times sometimes change but the U. 8.' Supreme court will not admit it WOMAN CAN AID THE MERCHWITS TAX MB 1. UNIONS CAUSE PEARSALL By A. Derelict. In replying to the "outburst of Pearsall (who by the way, never loses an opportunity to seek a little notoriety by springing into press on some pretense or other) I would like to ask Mr. Pearsall, why a jeweler should not be taxed three-fol- d more than the legitimate merchant who sells the necessities of life? I for one do not think that Mr. Pearsall would pay any legitimate tax if he could get out of it. All that Is necessary is to recall the, controversy that he raised several years ago in regards to the poll tax, and now about the merchants license, convinces me that he dont give a w'hoop about the public interest in Organization Jewelry is a luxury and as such, along with candies, cigars, ice cream and the other luxuries, should be made to stand the burden of our taxation. I will say again that the merchants do not pay the exorbitant license tax which they are complain- ing so much about and just so long as the "scuffling derelicts remain and Commerthe unorganized permit cial club to run the affairs of our city, they (the scuffling derelicts and the common masses) will have to foot the bill. Ill admit that the merchants license is "unjust and discriminatory from the small merchants viewpoint of the matter, for instance; the small merchant who carries from nothing up to $200 worth of mershandise, pays at the rate of 32 per hundred, while the Trust can have 3100,000 worth of merchandise and pays at the rate of only 22 cents per hundred. Can Mr. Pearsall explain what caused the "big fish to have a change of heart, and make them so concerned about the little merchant? When we get prohibition, the poor unfortunates who have been addicted to the use of John Barleycorn, will have to look to some other source to satisfy his cravings for stimulants and to find other means of spending his surplus earnings in case he has any left. The consequences will be that he will divert to candies, cigars and drugs; therefore the drug stores and candy factories will be the first beneficiaries, and while I am at it I would like to ask Mr. Faus of the Smith-Fan- s Drug company, who has also joined Mr. Pearsall in the big cry against the merchants license, what remuneration he will give the scuffling derelicts for the abolishment of the license tax; also how will he reimburse the city for the privilege of placing his wares on the. market as a substitute for intoxicating liquors? The loss in revenue to the city by the abolishment of the merchants license will amount to 335,286.05; when that is abolished there will be a loss of about 375,000 in miscellaneous licenses together with the loss in revenue fiom prohibition will bring the grand total to about $338,000. Now, Mr. Small Taxpayer and scuffling derelict, do you know what that means in additional taxes to yourself? Considering the fact that a great number of the small taxpayers have to borrow and mortgage their homes now to pay their exorbitant taxes, I pity them when they have another tax of 2 mills attached to their present tax rate. Poor Mr. Pearsall will be in an awful fix ajjd will not be able to pay his rents, lights, etc., at all, as the poor masses will not have a cent left to In, vest In luxuries. Time and space will not allow me to go further into the subject at this time, but will endeavor to enlighten the poor "scuffling derelict on the other side" of (he license question at my next writing. Spenders Important as Organization of Earners. Mr. general. of EMPLOY UNION MEN BY DEMANDING LABEE J The women of most union menll homes are proud of the fact that th provider of the home is a union man; that he draws a good salary, that h$ gets home early, and he enjoys tho privilege of freedom, is independent and demands his rights. In all these things the wife and the family share, Yet what has the wife done to deserve a share in these better things of life, made possible by unionism? If union- ism has been discussed in the home, and the importance of the union label made known to all, then it is possible that the wifo deserves her share of aU home comforts. She deserves It, for she has done her share in creating better conditions for other wives by using the greatest power of union la- bor the buying power. Women of union homes can do as much for thq cause of organized labor as the men actively engaged in the struggle. All conscientious and thinking women are willing to devote time and thought to this question, and for selfish reasons as well as higher motives, they should. Ladies, if you appreciate your position. In life, if you wish to better it, and if you wish to help other wives and families to better conditions, then demand the union label and get it. By doing this you will aid the labor forward movement In a general way. You will j , ! ' J j j ' f ) j i j strengthen the cause that fought for and got wokingmens compensation; k instead of monthly pay- days; freedom for children through the child labor bill; factory and mine Inspection, and all other improved conditions now enjoyed by the com-mtwo-wee- i on You will aid in obtain- Jng shorter hours for women, mother1 pensions and the many other human!-tarian principles now advocated by union labor. Will you ladles of union homes give people. this matter your careful thought and consideration, now, today? Will you eome to the conclusion that this great humanitarian cause, based upon the sound, fundamental principles of advancement and betterment of the hu- man race, is worthy of your support? If so, then it lies within your power to render the greatest support of al- lthe employment of union laborby the purchase of union-mad- e products. Patronize only fair firms. These are questions each housewife must decide for herself. Will you de- cide for or against the' workers? Pueblo Labor Advocate. ! : i j I ; i j 1 1 . WOMANS AUXILIARY ; Number 16 Womans Auxiliary tan Typographical union No. 115. win hold their regular business meeting next Monday, February 12, In hall No. 2. Labor Temple, at 1.30 oclock., After the business of the meeting is tran. acted the balance of the afternoon izlll be devoted to card playing. AH friends are invited to attend. T 4 T T T T T TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT? STOCKHOLDERS MEETING. annual stockholders i In:Theof the Salt Lake Labor Temple meet-- 4 4 f a anaoclation win be held at tho 4 Labor temple Tor ml ay evening-- , 4 February 13, 1017, at 8 oclock, for f fhe purpose of elCetlng directors 4 and to trauaact auch other bnak. ea aa may eome before 4 aald meeting, properly 4 Dated at Salt Lake City. Utah, thin 25th day of January, 1017, G. 1. vine, 4 4 Acting Secretary. 44444444444 44444444 4444? |