Judge, 1911-04-01 · page 10 of 24
Judge — April 1, 1911 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Judge magazine page satirizes price regulation and corporate malfeasance through multiple pieces: **Top cartoon**: "Every Day is April First" depicts various con artists and swindlers—the caption suggests these figures perpetually deceive the public, implying April Fools' Day is their everyday business. **Main article**: The "Amalgamated Air Association" is a fictional utility company exploiting a regulatory loophole. After authorities cut air prices from $1 to 80 cents per thousand cubic feet, customers complain they receive *less* air despite paying less—the company simply rigged the meters to cheat them. When the board hears this, executives vote to ignore the complaints entirely, prioritizing profit over honesty. **Satire point**: The piece mocks how regulated monopolies circumvent consumer protections through fraud. Companies reduce prices nominally while reducing service proportionally, rendering regulation meaningless. The smaller jokes at bottom are unrelated filler typical of satirical magazines—wordplay and mild humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
EVERY DAY IS APRIL FIRST FOR THESE. thio be team artis Coming, Coming, Coming! HE BOARD of directors of the Amalgamated Air Associ- ation was in session in 19; “Mr. Chairman,” said the secretary, ‘‘I have before me several hundred letters from our clients, which have come to me in my official capacity. These letters all claim that our air meters installed in their houses are not giving satisfactory serv make the point in different ways that the meters are more irregular than they were a year ago and that they do not get as much air for a quarter as they did a year ago. The general content of them is that OMNIVOROUS. First mouse—"" Are yeu fond of Dickens ?"" Second mouse—"' Yes; but these new ency- clopedias are more to my taste."” our customers do not get any better serv- ice and no more air than they did before the Public Service Commission passed the law cutting down the price of air from one dollar to eighty cents per thousand cubic feet. They say that, although the air we furnish them is one-fifth cheaper than it was twelve months ago—by law —they get not a cubic inch more by dropping a quarter in the meter.”’ “‘May I ask the secretary,’’ said Mr. Getitall, one of the heavy stockholders, arising, ‘‘if he has received any evidence or information that any legal steps are to be taken against us?"’ “IT have no such information,’ turned the secretary. “Well, then, I move,"’ said the heavy stockholder, still on his feet, ‘‘that the reading of the letters be dispensed with and the important business of the meet- ing be taken up.’’ ‘The motion was put and carried with hardly a dissenting voice. Get the Hook. 664 WANT a pair of button shoes for my wife.’” “This way, sir. wish, sir?’’ “‘Doesn’t matter—just so they don’t button in the back.’’ " re- What kind do you According to the Practical Joker. BRICK under a tin can is worth two in the brick pile. Which Was To Be Proved. IME heals all wounds. Time is money. Time is like all other doctors. GOING UP!" English Fly—"* Something 's wrong with this blarsted lift! I've been on it for an hour by the clock, and it's scarcely moved."” comicbooks.com