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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 6, 1957)
SIX MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE Tuesday. August 8. 19S7 Most Americans Better Off Than Ever Despite Declining Doiiar Washington TP The value of show that national average per the dollar has been falling but most Americans are better off than ever before, government (lata indicates. Sounds impossible? Lefs see how it works out. When economists say the value of the dollar drops, they mean that a dollar buys fewer things than it used to. the dollar itself is the same, but prices have risen. The consumer dollar today is estimated to have a purchasing power about five-sixths of what it was worth 10 years ago. Put another way, with the 1957-49 average of Consumer goods prices equal to 100, the Bureau of Labor Statistics' latest price index stood at 120-2 an all-time high. Yet despite this record of in flation a record that runs back into the 19th Century Amer icans on the average are able to buy more goods and services than ever before. 'Real' Income Increase Commerce Department figures capita "real" income in 19o6 was nearly 50 per cent greater than in 1929. That &, the average America could buy 50 per cent more goods and services last year than in the heyday of the golden Twenties. This despite the increase in taxes since tfien. And despite the fact that the purchasing power of the dollar (taking 1947-49 as u base of 100 cents) fell from $1.36 in 1949 to 86 cents now. The explanation of course is that average income rose faster than prices and taxes. Economists noted that these figures are for notional per cap ita averages. Different segments of the population have fared dif ferently, to say nothing of dif ferences in individual fortunes. As a class, manufacturing pro-i duction workers have had the greatest gain. Rising prices probably have had their worst effect on older folk people who live on pen sions and other kinds of fixed incomes which have not increas- j ed as much as prices. stead of the base of 1947-49 now month's consumer price index such long-run comparisons and Today's dollar would look used, in that case, the 1947 buck number would be 284 instead such astronomical figures. It pre- even smaller if its value were would be worth about 36 cents, of 120.2. fers to use relatively recent base estimated from 1913 prices in- Using this same base, last The government likes to avoid periods, a spokesman said, be cause economic comparisons lose their significance over long peri ods. In addition, it is occasionally necessary to revise the relative weighing of the components of an index. The economists feel it is good procedure to update the base at the same time. Hence, from time to time, the base peri od is changed. The latest switch in the consumer price base was in 1953. At that time, the 1935 39 price average was dropped in favor of 1947-49. The change was made by the ' Bureau of Labor Statistics on the recommendation of the Bud get Bureau's Office of Statistical Standards. On The Side (Distributed by King By E. V. Durling Features Syndicate, Inc.) I am not afflicted with in somnia. I usually doze off a minute after I hit the pillow. If a neigbhor is playing his television set a little loud or tossing a party, it may take me two minutes to get to sleep. How ever, there is one situation which is a major menace to my slum b .. That is a mosquito buzzing around the bedroom in the dark ness. Some of these insects are very crafty. They will stop buz zing finally and let you get to sleep. Then while your are slum bering, and won't be able to swing at them they sting you. As you probably know it is the ferns le mosquito that stings. The male mosquito is a vegetarian. Please Note ; Frequently heard is a popular gong, the music of which is high J. reminiscent of a song hit of the composer of the song of the past can be found on the title sheet. It is credited to a modern author and copyrighted by him. This situation has inspired Humphrey Littleton to observe, Mf George Gershwin's heirs could collect on every variation bf the I Got Rhythm' they would be in the Eockerfeller class." Shakespeare's Worst ; What can be called Shake speare's worst play? It is gen erally conceded to be "Titus Andronicus." This is probably the most horrible horror play of ail time. In the store are includ ed 11 murders, two mutilations, one rape and one cannibal ban quet. Yet a production of "Titus Andronicus," featuring Sir Laur ence Olivier and Vivien Leigh recently scored a terrific hit in London. Divorce In what state can a divorce be secured with the least incon venience? It is said to be Wy oming where a divorce can be obtained in 60 days. In Nevada a divorce can be secured in six weeks. However, this calls for actual residence during that per iod. In Wyoming the divorce seeker can file a petition and then leave the state returning in 60 days for the hearing. Asking Queries from clients. Q. Who wrote the song titled "My Moth er's Eyes"? A. Georgie Jessel. He also wrote that torch song with an optimistic twist, titled "Oh, How I Laugh When I Think How I Cried About You." . . . Q. Who was the head of the New York organization called "The Society For The Prevention of Crime"? I claim it was An thnnv Comstock. A. You are slightly confused, sir. Conistock hr-aded "The Society For the SimDression of Vice." Dr. Char les Henry Parkhurst headed "The Society For The Prevention of Crime." Comstock s cam paigns were of a trivial nature compared to tnose oi rarsnursi. The latter's vigorous battle against political corruption in spired the Lexow Investigation and the overthrow of Tammany Hall. Would be nice to have a man of Parkhurst's calibre around New York now. Horses and Women Red-haired girls with freckles are said to be intensely affec tionate. Same is said of girls with dimples. Just saw a red haired girl with freckles and dimples. She must he a really interesting companion on a moonlight stroll. Passing By Eddie Rickenbacker. World War I hero and flying ace. He is still a top man in aviation. The Eastern Airlines which he developed and heads is said to be the best money maker in its field. Eddie came up the hard j way. Loss of his father made it i necessary for him to go to work ! for a living at the age of 12. i Attending night schools and self-1 education made him what he is today. Plus courage, of course. Too Many Words Referring to a film, an actor is quoted as saying, "Person ally, I liked it." Actors, women and airwave announcers use too many superfluous words, there fore, wasting their breath and other people's time. The "Per sonally" is superfluous in the aforementioned quotation. "I liked it" covers the situation. Cigars " The most discerning smokers i prefer cigars with a natural' color j wrapper, iney also favor cigars that are not encased in alumin um or glass tubes or covered with cellophane. The flavor of a cigar improves by the proximity in a box of other cigars. That is "naked" or uncovered cigars. The aforementioned coverings eliminate this great benefit. Resentence Delayed For Robert Merrill Resentencing of Robert Mer rill fnrmprlv spntenrprl tn thp itate penitentiary on charges of J robbery, has been postponed for several days pending further in vestigation, according to the district attorney's office. Merrill was returned to Jack Jon county Friday by sheriff's deputies and sentencing was pre viously scheduled for Friday. He was originally sentenced to 20 years in the penitentiary in 1945 on charges of assault with in tent to rob. Merrill was sen tenced under an old statute, the district attorney's office said, which has since been proven un constitutional and revised. Under the old statute Merrill could otily be sentenced to a maximum term of 15 years. West Denies U.S. Will Negotiate Separately London IW Western offi cials Monday discounted reports the United States would try to break the deadlock in the Lon don disarmament talks by pri vate negotiations with the Rus sians. American sources here said the negotiations .with Russia would "remain four-power" on i the western side composed of the U.S., Britain, France and Canacte. CILdDSIE IDT Only 4 Week Left EVERYTHING MUST GO By Sept. 1, 1952 Hurry-You Can SAVE Money On All Appliances Some'Up to 50 See Our Used Appliances ' Marine-Marvair 220 W. Main " MEDFORD Z Rljg? "If1 rtoH BUPG R BY ET...S VAR OR EW AND YOUR SAVE! 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