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About The Henry County weekly. (McDonough, GA.) 18??-1934 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 1909)
--Cartoon by Gregg, in the New York American. GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE THE INCREASED COST OF LIVING Senator Crawford Calls on Secretary Nagel For a Conservative Statement of the Facts Regarding Advance in Price of Necessities—lf Data Fail, Inquiry and Remedial Legislation Will Follow. Washington, D. C.—The alarming increase in the cos, of living, due to the rapid and constant advance in the price of necessities, is to he investi gated by the Government. Senator Crawford, of South Da kota, has asked Secretary Nagel, of the Department of Commerce and Labor, for a conservative statement of the facts. Should the Secretary, from data in his possession, fail to give the desired information, Senator Craw ford will press a resolution in the Senate, directing the Commissioner to investigate and report to Congress early, that there may be prompt remedial legislation. Senator Crawford purposes to get at the bottom facts as to the advance in prices. There is suspicion in his part of the country that combination and community of interest; have something to do with conditions that are alarming and fast growing intol erable. Senator Crawford is an op ponent of all monopolistic trusts and corners in farm and dairy products. Preliminary investigations show there have been no reports from the Commissioner of Labor on the costs of living, the advance in price of necessities and the value of labor since 1907. At that time a report was made that labor was not able to purchase as much as in previous years. The report was severely criti cised by Republican statesmen, be cause a political campaign was about to open. An amended report soon appeared, and its comparisons, more exhaustive than in the first report, explained some of the most damaging statements previously made. Increased Cost 37 Per Cent. Since 1907 there has been a sharp increase in the cost of living, and a gradual increase for a dozen years. In a special dispatch to The American from Trenton, N. J., it was stated by the State Board of Labor and Statis tics that the cost of living in New Jersey has increased in thirteen years 37.13 per cent. These facts have been brought home to a number of Senators by their constituents. The people want to know whether combinations and price arrangements have raised cost to consumers; what the farmer and the middle man get, to determine whether the margins of profit are too great. Senator Crawford will have little difficulty in getting his resolu tions of inquiry passed. Senator Bristow, of Kansas, be lieves combinations have something .to do with the advance of the cost of necessities, but thinks that the desire for luxuries has more. “The people have grown accus tomed to luxuries,” he said. “For years they got the best of everything at prices lower than now. When prices were advanced because of de mand, they had to take the next best. The result has been a general advance of all grades of necessities. I believe the combinations have had much to do with it, but not all. “When the wholesaler advances slightly, the retailer advances, and the two or more advances made be fore the article reaches the consumer makes the general advance a burden on the wage-earner. I would like to know the relationship that exists in all cases or in large communities be tween wholesaler and the retailer. I have heard, but do not know, that in some instances the wholesaler con trols the retailers and fixes the retail price. “I do not think the tariff can be held responsible for these advances. There can be no defense of the woolen schedules, no justification for the sugar tariffs except to insure per petuity to the Sugar Trust. Opposes Investigation. “I cannot see what good results would flow from an investigation of these conditions at this time.” Senator Perkins, of California, be lieves the advance is due to the law of supply and demand, that produc tion has not kept pace with the growth of population. “Many years ago, I was a cattle raiser,” he said. ““We got sl2 to sls for a steer. To-day that steer brings $45 to SSO. I sold sheep at $1.50 a head. They now bring $5 for mutton. Wheat has sold at fifty cents a bushel; it is now more than $1 in Chicago. The cattle raiser and the wheat grower get a large per centage of this increase. “Formerly the cities could be fed in large part by the product of sur rounding territory. Now the neces sities are demanded in such bulk they must be transported great distances. This increases the cost of the neces sities.” Cost to Go Still Higher. That the cost of living soon w r ill be greater than ever before, is indicated by the December report, just issued by the Bradstreet Company. The re port shows that the prices of com modities to-day are within a small fraction of the record. Up to date the highest prices ever known in this country for commodi ties was March 1, 1907. According to Bradstreet’s table of index num bers, on December 1, this year, the level stood at $9.1262. On March 1, 1907, the level was $9.12 93. That is, the price of commodities to-day is within a small fraction of one per cent, of the highest record. Bradstreet’s report shows that, theoretically, a man going to the wholesale market place to purchase a pound of each of ninety-six articles would have had to pay on December 1 of this year about $9.12%. On March 1 last like goods might have been purchased for nearly ninety-one cents less, while on December 1, 190 8, they were cheaper by 91.35 cents. Bradstreet’s index numbers are the totals of the prices per pound of nine ty-six articles, quarterly or monthly, which is used as a standard of com parison. The groups that make up the index numbers are set out in the following table, which shows the striking in crease in the cost of living this year as compared to last: Dec. 1, Dec. 1, . 1908. 1909. Breadstuffs $0.0979 $0.1014 Livestock 3275 .4010 Provisions 2.0603 2.3187 Fruits 1607 .1057 Hides and leather. 1.1825 1.2875 Textiles 2.3653 2.7350 Metals 5881 .5950 Coal and coke 0063 .0070 Oils 3637 .3753 Naval stores 0683 .0898 Building material . .0804 .0827 Chemicals, drugs.. .6379 .5958 Miscellaneous 274 4 .3712 Total $8.2133 $9.1262 The report shows that prices con tinue to move upward. If the pres ent rate of increase continues, it can be a matter of only a short time be fore the highest prices ever known will be recorded for all kinds of com modities. MILITIA IN GOOD SHAPE Federal Government Has Given Large Sums to State Troops During Th« Last Nineteen Years There Has Been $1,074,150.26 Subscribed By The United States. Atlanta, Ga. —in the last nineteen years, since 1890, the United States government has given to the national guard of Georgia in military supplies and equipment and in the expense of military encampments, a total of $1,074,150.28, whilo the state has ap propriated its military forces daring the same period $426,754.87, accord ing to a statement prepared by Quar termaster General W. G. Obear, at the request of Governor Brown. From a comparatively small begin ning, the assistance rendered the state troops by the general gown ment has increased from year to year, until it has grown from $11,213.96 in 1890, to the magnificent sum of s£o4,- 729 in 1908. From 1890 through 1900 federal ap propriations to the Georgia troops, chiefly in the shape of military sup plies and equipment, stood at practi cally the same figure with the single exception that in 1897 there was an extra appropriation under which the troops were furnished with 1,138 rides of. 45-caiber, valued at $17,070. In 1901 these federal appropriations begun to bound upward, the amount given Georgia for that year being $27,- 614.37, or two and a half times what it had previously been. There was another increase In 190/ when a four-gun light artillery bat tery, furnished to the Chatham Artil lery, of Savannah, valued at $57,600, and $20,000 given to encampment pur poses, brought the total up to $128,- 840. The banner year so far has been 1908, when the federal government gave the Georgia troops $51,040.44 for usual equipment, $54,827.18 for extra equipment, $20,000 for encampment purposes and $78,862.12 worth of new 30-caliber Springfield rifles, the kind now In use in the regular army. This latter item is what brought the total up to so high a figure. For 1909 the Georgia troops have been given $165,667, of which $5,827.18 Is for extra supplies and $57,800, the cost of a second light artillery battery furnished to the Governor’s Light Ar tillery of Atlanta. State appropriations to the troops during the same period have been less than half as much. For 1890 the amount was only $7,200; for the next two years $25,000; for the next two $20,000 each, and the two following $15,000 each. For 1897 and 1898 it was $25,000 each, but for 1899 and 1890 it dropped to $2,500, though in 1900 there was made a deficiency appropri ation of $20,000. In 1908 and 1909 the state gave its troops $25,000 for each year. Of late years the state appropriations have been used only for the payment of salaries, armory rents and other like expenses of the military establish ment, while all equipment and camp expenses have bene met by the fed eral government. The Georgia troops are now, gen enerally in a very efficient state, com paratively few commands having been put under probation as the result of this year’s inspections. In the cases of thoße that were they' were given until the next annual inspection to “make good.’* OLD STATE BOND. Baby Bond in the Sum of $5 Turns Up for Redemption. Atlanta, Ga. —A baby bond in the sum of $5, past due for twenty-five years, turned up at the state treasu ry for redemption. It was old and faded and badly worn, but it was ail there and a perfectly legal obligation of the state. Assistant Treasurer Ben Perry care fully studied the bond with a magni fying glass. It was No. 3829 and bore across its face the fact that it was of the series issued under author ity of an act approved December 14, 1878. Reference to the records show ed that this bond had never been paid. All the interest coupons had been cut, and no Interest was due on its since the date of maturity twenty-five years ago. The issue of bonds was the result of a measure fathered by Louis Gar rard, and the proceeds were applied to taking up $500,000 bonds of the state, issued February 27, 1856, and due In 1879, 1880 and 1881. These redemp tion bonds bore 4 per cent interest and were made payable in six years. It was set forth that “the faith and honor of the state of Georgia Is here by pledged for the prompt payment of the bonds and the interest thereon.” It was sent for collection by K. R. Ogleaby of Wingfield, La., and came through the Fourth National Bank. A. i W. Prut WILL DODDLE TRACK. Directors of Road Declare Business Will Demand It. Atlanta, Ga. —Application has been made to the railroad commission for permission of the Atlanta and West Point Railroad to increase its capital stock from $1,232,000 to $2,500,000. The directors have called a meeting of the stockholders to be held Jan uary 20th for the purpose of consider ing the advisabiiity of the increase. One of the most important features of the directors’ meeting held here this week was the announcement by H. Waters, chairman of the board of control of the Atlantic Coast Line, and one of the directors of the At lanta and West Point, that the road would be compelled to double track its line within five years to meet the increase of traffic. Why Suffer ? Are you one of the thousands of women who suffer from female ailments? If so, don’t be discour aged, go to your druggist and get a bottle of Wine of Cardui. On the wrapper are full directions for use. During the last half century, Cardui has been established in thousands of homes, as a safe remedy for pain which only women endure. It is reliable, contains no harmful ingredients and can be depend ed on in almost any case. nwm Help You Ifrs. Charles Bragg, of Sweetser, Inch, tried Cardui. She writes: ‘Tongue cannot tell how much Cardui lias done for me. Before I began taking Cardui I could not do a day’s work. I would work awhile and lie down. I shall always give praise to your medicine.” !Try Cardui. AT ALL DRUG STORES district : OCT. NOV. DeC- Hatnpton, 6 4 and 23 15 Sixth, ....... 75 and 24 Flippen, ....... 88 and 25 Stoekbridge, . . . . . . 110 ami 26 17 Shakerag, ...... 12 10 and 29 Brushy Knob, . . . . . . 13 11 and 30 Love’s, ....... 14 12 1 McMullen’s, ...... 15 15 2 Beersheba, ...... 25 16 3 Sandy Ridge, ...... 26 17 6 Tussahaw, ...... 27 18 8 Locust Grove, ...... 1 and 19 9on«i 14 Lowe’s, ....... 3 and 22 10 Snapping Shoals, 10 o’clock A. M., . . 13 Island Shoals, 12 o’clock, M-, . , 13 Woodstown, 2 o’clock P. M., . . . 13 McDonough, All First Court WeeK. On the Second Court week, Oct. 28, 29, 30. First, Tuesdays and Saturdays until BOOKS ARE CLOSED DEC. 20. JOHN S. GILBERT, T. C. Henry County, Ga. § STOVER GASOLINE ENGINE Send, for illustrated catalogue of engines, wind mills, and feod GEN. A GTS. ATLANTA, GA. NORMAN BUGGIES. Our motto for 14 years has been—not how cheap but how good our Vehicles are built for the man who believes the best is the cheapest, in the long run experience teaches that cheap buggies are the most E2XPEINSIVEI- If you agree with us on this point ask your dealer to show you a NORMAN. We believe today we build the best buggy in Georgia, and want you to know it. Built ©n correot propor tions of best material, beautifully designed and finely finished. Top Buggies, Runabouts and Stanhopes. If your local dealer cannot sup ply you, writ® direct to NORMAN BUGGY CO., Inc., CrfFin, Ca* STOCKBRIDGE WAREHOUSE CO. Will store your Cotton FREE for 30 Days. Insurance Rates : 10c. per month.' Storage after 30 Days 25c. per month for four 4 months; Balance of the Year FRBBI £*~BEND US /OUR COTTON!
