Show I Ir Will They I THE HE E great industries of the country could A. A amply afford to deduct c the increased j freight rate from the price of their products says the economist and statistician for forthe the railroad labor organizations commenting on the addition of the billion and a half dollars to the annual transportation bill bitt which the thc public must now pay He points out that by no possible computation could the increased freight rate be made to justify justify justify jus jus- jus- jus an increase of one per cent in the price per I pound of meat for instance or of 5 S cents in the price of a pair of shoes He figures that the rate increase should no not add 10 cents to to the I price of a suit of clothes or as much as a f fourth of a cent to the pr price ce of a loaf of bread When the butcher the baker and the candlestick candlestick candlestick candle candle- stick maker begin telling Mr Consumer how the increase in freight rates is responsible for the addition of a dollar or two to the price of this V that and the other commodity it may be well wen to remember what the statistician has said It will be more to the point if the department department department depart depart- ment of justice in charge of the operation of the laws will take notice and get bu busy with the gentlemen who are to boost prices on on- the general theory that they can get away with wih it by blaming increases on the new freight rates In this time lim of high prices it will also be been bewell bewell I well en for manufacturer jobber wholesaler and retailer to remember that it is sometimes th the last straw I that breaks the camels camel's I back and to absorb these freight increases ses themselves instead r of bf f piling them with additions on th the consumer Iray may b be good business in the end |