Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-04
WHEAT EXPORTERS FACE
DANGER OF INDICTMENT
Must BE Able to Show That Future
Contracts Justify Present Iii
crease i'm Prices.
BIG DEALERS ON DEFENSIVE
Assistant General Todd Has
Charge of Federal Investigation.
A1analan Declares War Is Simply
Excuse for Manipulation.
Especial to The Times. Dispatch.

WASHINGTON, February 3.-Unlcss
tho wheat exporters of tho United
States are able to show the Department
OF Justice that their contracts for wheat
Tor future delivery In Europe are sur
hcicnt to Justify the present increase
In prices. they will he in grave danger
OF indictment for conspiracy in re-
straint Of trade.
The Department OF Justice now has
the big dealers on the defensive At
torney-General Gregory has obtained
from the Bureau of Foreign and DO
nestle Commerce of the Department Of
commerce figures which show that the
exports Of wheat since the beginning of
The war have not been big enough to
cause Legitimate increase in prices to
anything like the extent which pre-
walls.
Assistant Attorney General Todd
who has charge OF the Federal investi-
cation to determine whether there cX-
lists combination to raise the prices Of
wheat and -four. said to-day:
THE departments activity is now di-
rcctcd toward ascertaining whether
there exist contracts for Immediate or
future delivery of wheat in Europe
to an amount sufficient to justify tf,e
present increased prices"
The figures which Attorney General
Gregory obtained from the Department
OF Commerce show that despite the
heavy exports OF wheat and flour to
Europe since the beginning OF the war,
there remains on hand sufficient to per-
nit the United States to export for
nearly four months ut the rate Of 80
100000 bushels month. without draw
Ing on tho supply needed for domestic
consumption. The totnl production Of
wheat In the United States In the cal
endar year 1914 was s9l. 900. 900 bushels,
the largest crop In the history of the
country.
OF this amount. 1t is estimated by the
government experts. that 100000, 900
bushels arc required for home consump-
ton. including seeding
SURPLUS REMAINING
Is :9I.0O0.OoO BUSHELS
The surplus remaining for export is,
therefore, "9l 100000 bushels
The figures on exports for the six
months ending with and including De-
cember, which are the very latest
figures obtainablc. show that l44.2Ol,-
533 bushels of wheat and 1900 900 bar
rcls Of -four were exported The OK
ports OF Hour represent about "a .00o-
600 bushels of wheat. Therefore, the
total exports Of wheat for the period
were about l7S.000,000 bushels.
Deducting this amount from the 2sl.-
100000 bushels remaining available for
export. leaves 100000 bushels still
available for export before the new
crop comes In
These figures disprovc the claim OF
dealers that the heavy shipments
abroad are responsible for the In
creased prices of wheat md -four and
tho consequent higher price of bread
In the opinion OF Representative
Manahan OF Minnesota. the best au-
thority in Congress on wheat prices,
the trouble lies between farmer and
baker, and scarcely involves either Of
them.
The war" said Mr.. Mannhan, which
has cut of demand quite rs much as
supply. Is simply an excuse for vio-
lent manipulation What the people
ought to know Is the connection be-
tween gambling spectators In the pit.
public warehouscmcn. who hold great
quantities Of mixed and doctored wheat
with which to control future trading:
the large milling combinations and
their control OF local inspectors, and