The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1916-05-19
CURB PIT on aIDDLEMaN

0uhb RI " .aIDi,LEMaS
Austria Hungary Protecting Public
Against Gouglng -cornering Sup
plies Stopped Buying and Selling
Of FoodsInffs For Profit Made
Illegal
Further measures for the elimina-
ton of the middleman. whose parti-
cipallon In commerce does not add to
the value or facilitate the distribu-
ton Of necessities, are being adopted
throughout the Austrian Hungarian
monarchy, not alone are new laws for
this purpose being enacted, but the
previous laws are being SO amended
that the civil and military bodies are
now being enforced with a vigor that
gives no quarter to offenders. Laws
in force and IN the course Of enact
ment provide that no person or per-
SONS IN Austria Hungary may buy
an article Of necessity and then sell
1t again for the sake of personal
gain, this affects transaction in food
stufTs especially. When the European
war broke out Ii was found that there
were many who wished to profit by
it, through the cornering of certain
supplies, In little time the cost of
living went up, alarmingly increases
ranging from 30 to 400 per cent, to
curb this tendency the Government
itself took such action as Its power
and scope permitted IL was found,
however, that the Legislative bodies
- - -. In,
the matter. suitable laws were adj
opted and these are now being so
amplified as 10 close the loopholes
which various actions at Law have
disclosed.
A recent ruling In an Austrian
Superior Court In Vienna Is Of in
terest because II shows both the
letter and spirit of the anti-speeula-
ton laws which have been adopted.
IN this case three Galicians had
bought relatively small quantity of
foodstuffs mostly grain. At the trial
1t was shown that the dealers had
sold the articles again In the same
town, In one instance what had De en-
re-sold TO Its original owner, profit
had been made and slight increase
in the price of food made from the
articles In question had resulted, IL
was proved The court ruled that
under the Law this was an offence
because the sale and resale of the
articles had been made by the defend
ants With a prof. to which they we're
not entitled. having added neither to
the value of The articles nor facili-
tated their distribution. They had
In fact found the Judge rendered dis
tribution more difficult by holding
the articles Tor certain price.
The defense was. that the accused
had acted within their Constitutional
rights by buying and selling a. they
had done and that they had moi nam
pered distribution because they had
at all times been ready to sell. but
the prosecution Obliged the defend
ants To make the admission that they
had never held higher price. where
upon the court found that this vas
now an offense because to hold nee
esslties for The gaining of profit
through the operation Of the law OF
supply and demand was illegal.
Heavy penalties of Imprisonment
and fines We're imposed upon the
three dealers
To deal for profit has become a
very dangerous and improbable en-
ternrise in Austria today before
the Hungarian Diet, nov In session.
is bill introduced by the Hungarian
Minister of Justice according to
which no person outside OF a trade
OF industry. or without the special
permission of the authorities. may
buy or sell for purposes of gaining
profit through speculation. any food
stufTs or other necessity OF life. This
means that only a miller may buy
grain and only baker may buy
flour. and then no more than what
he will. need for the requirements OF
his own business. The bill which is
sure to pass. provides maximum
penalty OF two years Imprisonment
and fine of 100000 crowns Dare
the L. S. Government say thai they
are taking a. good care of their com
mon people as the Austrian Govern
menI Ii.