The Washington herald., 1916-08-13
.FAVORS EMBARGO
ON j. 5. Wheat
P. T. Moran Says Foreign
Shipments Should Be Elm
mated by Government.

An embargo on wheat should be de-,
clsred at onoe by the Federal government
for the protection OF the American peo-l
pie, in the opinion OF p T Moran, presi-I
dent OF the. Chamber Of Commerce sn6
an extensive grain merchant, Of zsl Ml
street northwest
Adequate protection Of the Americans
populace demands the immediate ensct-{
ment Of an embargo act to forestsI tho
sale OF the limited wheat crop 70 for-
eisn nations" declared Mr.. Moran lssti
night. I feel that this is not an isolsted
opinion of my own, but rather the conf
sensus Of opinion of the grain merchants
and bakers. not only OF this city but OF
the entire country as well.
1T should be the opinion Of the EreacI
mass Of consumers, for they are the per-
sons on whom the increased cost uIti-s
ua2teiy will fall. The farmer snitts ths
Increased cost TO the wholesaler. thsI
wholesaler shifts the burden to the re-I
taller, and the retailer unIozds il ontol
the shoulders OF the consumer
Little Proht for America,
only a small percentage OF the people,
Of the United States will profit by the
Increased cost OF wheat Grain merchsntsl
Ike myself might gain some advantsge-
perhaps a considerable advantageous !
fully IS per cent OF the people, on thes
other hand, would be compelled 10 suffer
at the expense Of the prosperins few.
Tt is considerable burden thao
threatens to fall upon the peopI. oE
the country unless an embargo lie en-t
acted. The wheat crop this fall ial
considerably smaller than the lsStl
year. which was of the bumper type.I
Consequently, on account OF the rels- /
tive scarcity. viewed in comparison,
with the last crop. the price has
| scared.
ssE,1xz,;.r .,-.L l. -...-
farmers are holding their wheat in the
bins, thus adding to the seriouEnesS
of the situation. Then, on top orS
this, is the foreign demand. height
ened by the European war.
Wheat now is selling in Wash nr-
| ton in the neishborhood OF $50 a.
bushel. This marks an Advance or
about fifty cents within thirty GAYS.
Prices in Baltimore are ranging he
tween $3.50 and $40 a bUsnel. ac-
cording TO the grade. Farmers With
! holding their grain are confdCntlN eX-
pecting 81 a bushel within a lew
months. Unless a halt is called ops
| foreign shipments, il is not u.lInely
| that their dreams will be realized
Tense for Time.
| The Nheat situation will remain rrnt..
for fully a fortnight. and possibly Tor !
thirty or forty days Or even longer. ByS
the expiration Of that time the 'ol lEn /
. demand will have been rather are gly !
estimated and the situation ~ lavet
adjusted itself TO 2 certain extent.
| On account OF the high price Of at
! -four is bound TO advance. Here s-siu
the burden OF addeo expense will Isll oBI
the consumer furnishing an ADDITIONAL
reason why an embargo o. wheat sh9ulo
| be declared. for, should shipments OF
wheat TO foreign natiors be forbidden ;
the supply for home consumption would
be increased and would furnish suit
! hciency for the entire Populsti0- mus
| forestaIlinG further price aGvanc-s
| 1t is doubtful whethr- the iuC-c I'd
cost OF -four Will result IN = bous,ls- OF
| the price OF bread either in Wasa.n-Jon
or In other large cities. Most oG NJ big
! bakeries have large supplies or io- IN
/ their bins. enough TO last eeveral morihs-
and by the time these supplies are cE-
/ hausted the wheat situs ton probs bly, Eill
have adjusted itself 10 normal