The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-08-14
By JOHN s. SHERMAN,
of weights, MeRs-
ures, and Markets OF
the District.

the District. IT,.
lam clad CONGRESS Is giving attention
10 the problem Of the high price OF food
stuffa. Perhaps II means that We are
70 get some truly constructive action
But If the present increases In prices.
which are due TO the natural Instinct OF
the human kind 70 take heed to the fu-
ture and the ability Of business men TO
discount the certain future effects Of
the European war are to be condemned,
what is TO be said OF other sharp In
creases which have occurred, increases
often as great and practically as sud-
den and without any adequate economic
Justification: Those were unjustihabie
increases from reasonable TO high prices.
This IL an economically justifable in
crease which must follow war as night
follows the Cay, but because IL involves
rise from high 10 extremely high
prices, the people find Il harder II stand:
Had the municipalities OF the United
States kept abreast Of the times in the
DEVELOPMENT and control OF scientifically
organized means for the distribution Of
food products. the present increase OF
prices would Rave been an increase sim
ply from reasonable TO high prices. In
stead of from high to exorbitant ones.
Producer Gets Two-nfths.
OF the price PAID Dy the average to
tail purchaser here IN Washington, rare
Iy over two-ffths ever gets back to
the direct producer Of the goods. The
remaining three-fifths does not represent
exorbitant profits to middlemen. most
Of whom are struggling to keep their
heads above water. but represents, beside
the necessary intermediate steps and
reasonable profits a tremendous amount
Of unnecessary and economically I'M
Unsuitable waste. Most OF these wastes
are easily preventable.
It Is all very well to talk about "reduc-
ing the high cost Of living" but what
has been desperately needed for some
years back Is q comprehensive. construc-
tive campaign along practical lines TO
keep prices from going higher; for the
normal tendency Of basic costs and prices
is upward due. In fact, to increasing pro-
duction OF gold: the tendency OF popula-
ton to concentrate IN cities, and the rap
idly increasing population on stationary
land area. with more and more hungry
people to b fed and relatively less and
less land devoted 70 production, basic
prices must rise. Improved methods of
agriculture will help some. but the great
est possibilities lie In the elimination Ct
wastes in Distribution. We must eliminate
these wastes as fast as. or faster than.
basic costs Of production and producers
prices rise.
This means a comprehensive municipal
marketing system, for the assistance and
guidance OF the middlemen rather than
for their elimination. to help them to get
and distribute their wares in the scien-
tificalIy best and cheapest way. Such
system should be built on a comprehen-
sive plan, each step being taken with
definite view not only to the next step.
but also to the final completed structure.
Such a system should have in view prob
lens Of sanitary handling in the cheapest
possible manner. elimination of needless
transportation and rehandling. elimina-
ton Of all svoidable wastes through
bruising. putrefaction. or less in transit
and storage. elimination Of unnecessary
rentals, unnecessary jobbers' profitt. and
unnecessary space devoted TO DISTRIBUTION
purposes.