Word: dire
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...Such dire reports are regarded skeptically by rail users. Though no longer robber-barons, the railroaders often take a public-be-damned attitude in trying to cut passenger traffic. The New York Public Service Commission reported last week that the New York Central had deliberately left trains out of a timetable, presumably to discourage patronage. And though passenger traffic losses are accurately recorded under the bookkeeping system approved by the ICC, many experts quarrel with the system. They argue that losses are actually far less, simply because the passenger business, only 7% of overall rail business, carries...
Several locals were plainly aroused by the beatings, and threatened dire consequences if they caught those responsible...
Part of the discounters' troubles comes from a general slump in the appliance market. With overall sales down some 10% this year, many a discounter, depending on high volume to make his cut-rate prices pay off, is in dire straits. Chicago's Grossi Bros, cites manufacturers' reports that factory sales of automatic washers are down 28%, conventional washers 32%, electric dryers 44%, refrigerators 20%, dishwashers 32%, stoves 32%. Another worry is increasing competition from conventional retailers who, instead of sitting back, cut prices right and left. St. Louis' Famous-Barr Co. has been matching discount...
Finally the dire need of the Hungarian refugees became a political football when the Chairman of the Combined Charities pistol-whipped the Council into letting World Universities Service handle the funds for the special relief drive. "If WUS doesn't get the money, I won't run the drive," he said, and added that "you can't tell me how to spend my money." Regardless of the merits of WUS, Combined Charities is and should remain an advisory and administrative arm of the Council...
...84th Congress, in its second session, was an unwanted political child. It was born last January amid dire predictions that it would grow up as a ne'er-do-well in the broken election-year home of party-style Democracy and Republicanism. But it adjourned last week with surprisingly good grades in conduct...