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Show OWEN SHOWS JUST WHO GETS COIN YOU PAY FOR PLACE TO LIVE IN . A V- By ROBERT U. OWEN, U. S. Senator from Oklahoma; Author of the Federal Rcservo Banking Act; President National Popular Government "Lcagnc. The housing question is rapidly becoming be-coming ono of tho most serious prob-loms prob-loms of our national life. Already the dangoroua concestion and overcrowding overcrowd-ing which has disturbed for years and now threatens tho stability of society in Europe is Bhowing Its monacing head In America. Of course tho housing: and home question has at bottom tho land question. ques-tion. But in this article, let us consider con-sider the common man's problom of building a houso in the face of modern mod-ern monopoly and profiteering. Tho cost of oven a humblo homo Js now prohibitive to the average worker work-er and very difficult for tho small business and professional man. A house that used to cost three thousand dollars now costs from six thousand to eight thousand dollars. What or who is to blame? Is this duo to natural law of supply and do-mand. do-mand. operating under war and postwar post-war conditions? Or Is there excoselvo and unreasonable profltcorlns: going on? Tho poHtlcal party which fails to 1 meet this Ss3ue, to discuss It frankly and fully with a viow to its solution, which fails to offer a reasonable rom-ody rom-ody is not entitled to tho confidence of the people. In an article on clothing I drew aomo facts from a special treasury report, re-port, showing tho profits of certain American corporations in tho year 1917 from tho Income and excess profits tax record. This remarkable document, practically secret as far as tho general public is concerned, Is referred re-ferred to among those who know it at Washington as "Senate Document No. 259." There are several thousand companies com-panies listed In tho industries whicn affect tho cost of building and furnishing fur-nishing a home. Seeking tho net profits on capital stock after all government gov-ernment taxe3 have been paid, after allowing for ovcry charge, for depreciation, depre-ciation, for loss, for crtpendlturo and tho cost of advertising, here is what I found: A sawmill with a capital of one million mil-lion dollars made a profit of $244,-773. $244,-773. A planing mill of $35,000 capital with a profit of $17,000, equal to 50 por cent. A brick plant of $100,000 capital, with a profit of. $38,000, or 38 por cent, A cement factory of $1,000,000 capital, capi-tal, and a profit of $343,000, equal lo 34 per cent. A contractor with a capital of $150,000 made $85,000, or a profit of 57 per cent. A paint manufacturer with a capital of $975,000 made a profit of $641,000, equal to 66 per cent. A furniture factory, with a capital of $394,000, with a profit of $102,000. equal to 26 per cent-There cent-There are hundreds of companies which made in this year, 1917, with ' tho country at war, three, four and , flvo dollars for every dollar invested after all taxes had been paid. Furthermore these profits were exceeded ex-ceeded In the years 191S and 1919 in very many cases. At the beginning of this year, 1920, wo were subjected to a sudden rise in the general pricos of lumber of 50 per cent. With some forms of lumber tho price was raised much higher, for example, ex-ample, white quartered oak was raised from $97 to $315 por thousand feet. The bureau of forestry, in response to a resolution Introduced by Senator Capper of Kansas, Is now making an investigation of this matter. It will probably contain sensational revelations, revela-tions, as these violent increases cannot be due to the normal law of supply and demand. Often high costs complained of aro attributed to labor. , Selecting Chicago as an extreme ex- i ample I applied to tho federal bureau of labor statistics for tho facts as to labor cost. I was Informed that the average wage paid to workers In nino of tho main trades In tho Duilding industry, in-dustry, Including both skilled and unskilled un-skilled labor, was 62 conts per hour in July, 1914. In July, 1919, It was S9 cents per hour, avorage, or an ad-vanco ad-vanco of 44 por cont. But during that period the wholesales whole-sales prices of building matorlals had advanced an average of 200 per cent. It Is fair to tho worker to remember that In this period his living costs hadf " -Increased around 100 por cent, so that he was In no wise better off financial- jwM ly, except that employment since 1914 wM has been and continues more steady.1 fM Both capital and labor must sover-ally sover-ally rccolvo a fair and just reward for his services, but the rights of the pub- IH lie, and this involves every man who labors or who invests capital, must bo considered and protected In a govern- mcnt based upon Justice, and wisdom. |