The Washington times., 1915-06-15

OVdVeS, ltS peOpic, NeihoTh
cans no less than others, will sup
port him against every foreign in
fluence working against this nation.
WAR PRICES IN ENGLAND
Five important articles of food in
general use have increased in Lon
don an. average of 81 per cent in
price since the war began; in Ber-
lin, 33.5 per cent; in Vienna, 74.4
per cent. This is the statement re-
Gently made by the British board of
trade after an investigation of the
general subject of food prices, con-
cerning which there is much COM
plant throughout England.
The fact that Berlin shows the
lowest ratio. of increase is certainly
not surprising, for it has been
known since very early in the war
that the German government had
imposed the most severe conditions
on all efforts to advance prices. In
deed, the German increase is not
fairly indicated by these figures, for
German money of current use has
lost considerably in value as COM
pared to gold, and If it were as
firmly on the gold basis as is Brit
ish money the Berlin ratio of ,ad-
vance would doubtless be material
ly less than it is. German law re-
CURES that the most rigorous PEN
alties shall be imposed for advanc-
ing prices, or for refusing to accept
the German paper money Of which
vast amounts have been issued. The
government even commandeered the
food supplies of the country in Or
der to insure against advances.
These measures had been planned
in advance with great care, and
have been on the whole wonderfully
effective, as Is shown by the very
much smaller ratio of increases in
Germany as compared to the other
two countries. 1t is not improbable
that, when the difference in value be-
tween British gold standard money
and the, circulating media of the
other two countries is taken into ac-
count, it would appear that the in
crease has been as great in England
as even in Austria. 1t Is well
known that economic pressure has
been much more severe in Austria
than in either of the warning coun-
tries.
It is, of course, obvious that in SO
far as these circumstances are con-
cerned, Germany is in much the
most favorable condition among the
three nations. But there are COM
pensations for everything. England
had sound money system and is
transacting a great share of her
regular business in the regular way
There are people in, England who
are making immense profits out OF
the war, and out Of general COM
merce. There are mighty few such
in Germany. British workingmen
are getting higher pay than in time
of peace; and getting St in good
money. The nation is fighting to
save its gold standard, and will
probably succeed in maintaining il
even when the period of reckoning
comes after the war. In Germany
on the other hand, because such g
great edifice of economic artificial
ity has been reared, it may we'll be
doubted whether the gold standard
will be able to survive, save after 6
period of suspension and ruinous
liquidation. In the long run, the
thing that is utterly artificial j!
difficult to maintain.
England, however, is being
mulcted by some Of her wartim,
profit makers. There is told the in
stance of one big British milling
concern that in the year ended las
February earned over $1,s00,0Ol
profits, against $4,000 the preced
ing year. Such cases are multiple,
SO extravagantly that business a
usual in Britain sounds more lik
|, "profits for whoever can grab them.
1t is not very apparent what benefi
the average Britisher gets from
keeping the sea ways open if he i
to be mulcted in such fashion Will
the thrifty and forehanded German
, nation calmly declines to be victim
lied. 1t is far more important, so
cially and economically, that all tn
, nation shall live, than that favore
, section of it shall make profits ou
of the misfortunes of the rest.
> They are now discussing with ne,
. gravity the question of Englan
taking on some definite program O
, control of foods and prices, some
, what after the German fashion. ]