The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-01-29
germany AROUSED
BY GOVT. Order
Sudden Seisure Of Grain Dis.
turbs Whole En-
pire.

Berlin, Jan. 26, via London, Jan.
/ % t4:3j a. M The governmental
order for the appropriation of all
stocks of wheat, corn and flour,
which was announced most unexpect-
eddy last night. is naturally the chief
topic of discussion by the newspapers
and the people. All are inclined to
! accept il in the best spirit and with
out grumbling. as necessary meas
ure to prevent the misuse of grain
stocks, which has been going on de-
spite the earlier governmental meas
ures. and to conserve the grain I'M
til the neyt harvest.
The Tageblatt. however. is inclin-
ed to criticise the Government "for
its delay in finding out that the 1914
harvest was only an average instead
OF bumper crcp, as at first an
nounced. 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 oil mobilization, reach
es right down TO the smallest house
hold. Each family, no matter how
small or low poor. is called upon to
declare its stock y: grain or -four
Quantities below 220 pounds are
exempt from seizure.
The appropriation was determined
upon, it is authoritatively stated, be-
cause of the fact that in spite OF all
warnings and appeals. the consump-
zion of bread made OF wheat end
other -four showed no signs of de-
creasing. and was continuing at a
rate which threatened the exhaus-
ton of supplies before the next har-
vest
The available alternatives open to
the Government were either to allow
the natural rise in prices 10 check
the consumption. which would have
thrown the whole burden of war
prices upon the poorer people. or tc
appropriate the supplies stIibutiOn
at price which was not excessive.
Additional reasons. Tor he adOp-
ton of the second alternative was
found in speculative abuses, which,
notwithstanding the patriotism of the
German people in general, have been
going on. disregard of the regulation
prescribing an admixture of rye and
potato -four with wheat. and partic-
ularly the feding of grain to live
stock.
The measure provides for a reduc-
ton in the number of livestock, which
at the present. time is the greatest on
record. Swine. to a large extent, are
being converted into sausage and
smoked meats under the auspices of
the communes. which have been al
lowed to appropriate them,
No information regarding the Ger
man stock grain as established by
governmental inquiry December can
be obtained, but a high official said
that while 1t was admittedly below
the normal rate of consumption,
which in Germany is about $40
pounds of rye and 200 pounds of
wheat and barley per capita per an
mum. it was adequate. if properly hus-
banded, to nourish the people until
the next harvest.
The appropriation does not extend
to grain imported from abroad, to
which the existing maximum prices
do not apply. Wheat in Berlin today
was $40 per bushel. Importers.
however, according to the authority
consulted. must offer the imported
grain either to the grain monopoly
company or to the communes.
The appropriation, while purely a
war measure, represents socialistic
experiment which since Pharaoh
probably is without precedent eth
err in scale or in character. Experts
here are wondering just how it will
work out.
The Announcement was virtually
without effect on the Grain Exchange,
where there has been little trading
since the adoption Of the maximum
price regulation.