Show Problem Not Tot Solved W AT OUT uT a definite solution of the thc cost of linn living V I problem there can be no pence peace in We Ye may establish peace pence on the throne of high i cals but if the thc people arc hungry it cannot endure It is fitting therefore that the American Congress should divide its attention between the peace tre treaty ty an and the cost of l living living liv liv- I iD ing problem Perhaps the tile public is inclined cd to look for an immediate immediate immediate imme imme- diate upheaval ayal in prices which will constitute a permanent permanent perma perma- nent solution of or the problem I In this it is doomed to I disappointment for it is plainly apparent to every ery student student stu stu- dent that the solution has not yet been discovered disco The work undertaken by Congress is a study as well I as a problem New conditions and changed standards stand in the way to baffle the efforts of government officials officials officials of of- to re establish the thc conditions of old We Ve cannot cannot cannot can can- not expect chops and steaks at the old prices so long as live stock is fed feel corn selling at from to per cent more than it did before The governments government's wheat guarantee g which will vill ill be I scrupulously fulfilled 1 prevents this product going gOin on the market at nt anything less than a n. bushel The law JaW of supply and demand as ns a result is out of commission commission com corn mission and no matter what crops arc are produced no re reductions reductions re- re can be looked for fOI Departures from the laws resulted in ill increased stan stan- erf if supply and demand have ha dards The cost of production is hi higher heL because the elements ele elc- dc- dc ments meats entering into production arc higher Consequently the public at nt large must control its expectations because prices an and the thc cost of livin living cannot cannot cannot can can- not reach t the hc prewar levels for years to come corne We care are arc areS S not lo to remain idle and appear helpless however as ns thc e obstacles confront us The present endeavor or is going to have a wholesome effect It is going to serve as a sort of a 1 guarantee e against still higher prices 1 It t is going to the thc profiteer cr i in a large measure and anI mar mark the V. V beginning g bl n ing- ing of the effort to establish a definite efin te standard from which stability can be reached The aim nim of th the government o is to hold prices at or below elow V the point reached in November Xo 1918 From a survey suney conducted in in Washington ashington D. D C. C it would seem V that tat this cannot result in any re revolutionary price lions According n to the Washington ashin ton survey conducted by the thc United States Stales department of labor the tile cost of living Hying in that city ina le no noticeable gain ain between December De De- cember 1913 IDIS and April 1919 Comparing prices affecting affecting af af- af- af the household budget of December 1918 with those of April lUlU the investigators find the following decreases Food per pcr cent clothing per cent fuel and li light ht 76 per cent and furniture and furn furnishings furnish furnish- ings 68 per cent The only increases recorded in this survey e arc are housing 98 US per cent and miscellaneous 99 DD per pcr cr cent No doubt douht these con conditions arc are not a true barometer of V th the thy nation but they are arc reflective tive of price tendencies 1 with profiteering eliminated The fhe Washington figures show ho that no reductions great arc are to be expected in re returning rc- rc turning t to the standard of November 1918 If the thc f figures fig fig- gures g- g ures tires are in in many any measure reflective of conditions in other parts of the nation our chief hope in the present activity is is that it will arrest the flight flig eliminate profiteering profiteering- and establish a standard on which we can effect a readjustment readjust- readjust merit ment which will ex extend end to every ery ind individual income and living ling conditions b based on the ame general standard V r r- a 3 ra |