Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-01-28
REDUCED RAT|0NS
FOR ALL GERMANS
Public StoicaIly Accepts Gov
ernment's SociaIistic Order
Live Stock to Be Killed
Economy Necessary.

Berlin. tvia London), Jan. 2S.-The
governmental. order for the eXporpria-
tfon of all stocks of corn, wheat and
flour. which was announced most un-
expectedly last night. is naturally the
chief topic of discussion by the news,
pa Ifcrs af1d tie people lire iafciins1
to accept ii in the best spirit and With
out grumbling as a necessary mea sure
to check the misuse of grain stocks.
which has been going on despite the
earlier governmental measures. and To
conserve the grain until the next har-
vest.
The appropriation, while purely a
war measure. represents a socialistic
experiment which. since the Pharaos,
probably is without precedent either in
scale or in character. Experts nero
are wondering just how it will work
out.
The announcement was virtually
without effect on the German exchange
there having been little trading since
the adoption of the maximum price
regulation.
criticise Government.
The Tageblatt. however. is included
to criticise the government for its de-
lay In finding out that the 1914 harvest
was only an average, instead of II
bumper crop. as nj first announced,
and its failure TO adopt long ago steps
which are only now found necessary.
The measure which brings the war
home to the Germans as nothing since
the days of mobilization reaches right
down to the smallest household. Each
family, no matter how small or how
poor. is called upon to declare its stock
of grain or flour. Quantities below 220
pounds are exempt from seizure.
The governments action was de-
termined upon ii is stated. because Of
hn fa. ia nf all w ,Cr
and appeals the consumption of bread
made of wheat and other flour showed
no signs of decreasing and was con-
tinuing at rate which threatened TIE
exhaustion OF supplies before the next
harvest.
But Two Alternatives.
The available alternatives open to
the government were either to ALLOW
the natural rise. in prices to check the
consumption which would have thrown
the whole burden of war prices upon
the poorer people, or to appropriate the
supplies and thus insure equitable dis
tribution at price which was not ex-
cessive.
Additional reasons for the adoption
of the second alternative was found in
speculative abuses. which. notwit!l-
standing the patriotism of the German
people in general have been going on
disregarding the regulation prescribing
an admixture OF rye and potato flour
with wheat and particularly the feeding
Of grain to live stock.
Claim Reserve Sufficient.
The measure provides for a reduction
in the number of live stock which a,
the present time is the greatest on rec
ord. Swine. to large extent are be-
ing converted into sausage and smoked
meats under the auspices of the CON-
munes, which have been allowed to ex-
propriate then.
No Information regarding the Ger
man stock of grain as established by
government inquiry December l. car
be obtained. but high official said
that while 1t was admitted to be below
the normal rate Of consumption, is sut-
ncient if properly husbanded. to nourist
the people until the next harvest.
! The expectation does not extend
to grain imported from abroad to which
the existing maximum prices Go moi
apply. (Wheat in Berlin today was
$1.7O per busheD. Importers however
according to the authority consulted
must offer the imported grain either tt
the grain monopoly company, or to the
| ccmmuneS.