Evening journal., 1915-07-19
PRICES ARE BOOSTED
By WAR ABROAD

ohH1f just ARAAlA'ANu Uo AAN A'4A'4A -
Labor Statistics. The information on
which the study is based was gathered
through the Consular Service aud COW
ers more than 100 cities, towns and
districts over eighteen European coun-
tries. A summary issued the bu-
reau says:
The report shows that the frst et'
feet of the war was the same practi-
cally throughout Europe. Its out
break was followed by sharp rise In
prices due mainly to panic and uncer-
tainty In some countries legislative
measures were at once taken to check
the rise. In others the governments
strictly adhered to a hands-off policy
and trusted to the natural course OF
events for readjustment Within a
! fortnight the first panic was over. and
except In the actual war zone, prices
began to FALL In most places, how
ever prices did not drop to the July
level. and after an interval again took
an upward turn. which has probably
. not yet reached It's climax
: THE price figures available are
somewhat incomplete. but almost
! everywhere the upward tendency Of
: prices appears. Potatoes was one OF
/, the few articles which showed a fall
\ in prices in most Of the more import
> ant countries. Meat also, was an
4 other important article which in
= many places increased but little in
q price
3 Price of Flour Climbs.
E Flour. on the other hand, showed
! decided changes Russia is the great
n est wheat-exporting country OF
Europe. and the war practically shut
Se off its foreign markets II is not sur
ID prising, therefore. 10 find that the
ne price of wheat -four had actually fall
re en- in Moscow. In Germany and Aus
ne tria the rise was marked. prices COM
n. pared with the July level in Germany
I'd showing an increase Of 25 per cent by
er December and "a per cent by Janu-
It airy. In Vienna the increase by De-
v. cember was 70 per cent. and by Janu.
mt ary So per cent. in Switzerland, the
II. Netherlands and Great Britain -four
ed prices in December we're 13 or IA pei
or cent. above the July level. but latei
me- figures show a continued increase II
n. February. reaching "a per cent. in the
he Netherlands and 90 per cent. in Grea
%. Britain. Bread prices in most easel
followed those Of wheat flour. II
Germany and Austria. however, thu
increase in the prices Of bread wer'
somewhat less thar those in the pric'
of wheat -four.
Sugar prices showed marked diff
N ferences resulting from the war II
different localities In France tn
U best sugar beet fields lie in the north
ern parts, which were early invaded
and as a result the price Of suga
e. rose sharply. Germany and Russi
is are sugar exporting countries, and !
1y Berlin and Moscow sugar showed IN
er tie change in price England IN
y. ports its entire supply and in Lor
he don the price rose 20 per cent. Turke
nd usually imports her sugar from Rul
r soa and from Austria. The Ru
ly sian supply was cut on altogeth,
ty. when Turkey entered the war and q
lid Austrian supply was reduced to VIII
IL could be brought by rail-a very u
ial certain dependence.
'er Exports Prohibited.
al, Administrative and legislati
rm measures to check the rise in CO
Of necessaries were very general
lin taken. Denmark, Egypt, Great Britai
ir. italy. Russia. Spain and Turkey pr
We hibited the export Of practically
ed foodstuffs France, Norway Al
ed Sweden listed certain articles whi'
il must not be exported, and Hollai
,b- placed an embargo on butter al
To- cheese.
sct Fixing maximum prices, especial
ds. for foodstuffs, by some Governme
at agency was q very common measuI
nv To some extent il was used by eve
ss- country included in the bureaus +
II port, although in Great Britain al
are Sweden so little Of the sort was do
he that these countries might almost
re- excepted
ar "The methods adopted for hxi
,an prices differed considerably.
Led France, Germany. Greece. Italy, I
Mr. Netherlands, Russia, Spain a
nto parts Of Turkey the municipal auth'
ase tiles, either alone or in co-operati
ma with the central or military autho
hes ties, might ix maximum rates II III
ave thought best. In most cases this ril
1en was OF long standing. In all OF th'
countries the municipal authorit
,ing have very generally made use OF q
, or right In Bulgaria a special law v
Air passed early In August authoTizi
e,, local authorities, with the particil
INST ton of financial authorities, to
;ans prices, both wholesale and retail.
'irst Egypt a commission was 1rpoin
by the Central Government nth pov
,sar TO fix maximum prices. In Serbia
,,,.h Minister of the Interior was charl
with the duty OF fixing maxim
prices.
Some governments. while allow
the local authorities to fx prices
most things, issued DEGREES applica
to their whole territory concerning
Mi few highly important articles. II
UD Austria and Germany both prescril
the proportion of wheat or rye n
that should be used in making bre
ho Later both Austria and Germany A.
l. the wholesale price of cereals. a
1;fo brought the distribution and consun
49, ton OF flour and bread under sti
ror control. Turkey fixed prices for
- trolcum, sugar and -four In Italy s
tobacco and matches are governm
80 monopolies, so that their prices W
~ ~ fixed by the central authority. d
pal mark, Holland and Switzerland Il
'V tied themselves to controlling the m
= important breadstuff Of each countr
Works Hardship on Masses.
"The Importance and full signifos
in the increases in prices which oceu
would not be fairly presented Will
reference TO the fact that increased
of living, and especially the increase
DK food prices. has for several years
I'M question of serious concern in prs
lcallv all of the European countries