The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-03-30
|AUSTRlANS ON TRAIL
OF The MIDDLE MAN
New Law Provides Nobody May
Buy and Sell Necessities
For Personal Gain.

Vienna (by mail). - Further meas
nres for the elimination of the mid
dleman whose participation in COM
merce does not add to the value or
facilitate the distrib ton of necessi-
ties are being adopted throughout the
Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Not alone
IRE new laws for this purpose being
enacted, but the provisions already
made by the civil and military bodies
are now being enforced with vigor that
gives no quarter to offenders.
Laws in force and in the course of
enactment provide that nobody within
Austria n Hungary may buy an
article of necessity and then sell it
again for the sake of personal gain.
This affects transactions in toodstutfs
especially. When the European war
broke out it was found that there were
many who wished to profit by it
through the "cornering' OF certain
supplies. In little time the cost of liv-
ing went up a~larmingly, increases
ranging from so to 400 per cent. To
curb this tendency the government it
self took such action as its power and
scope permitted. 1t was found, how
ever, that the legislative bodies of Aus
tria and Hungary, had to act in the
matter. Suitable laws were adopted,
n these are now being so amplified
as to close the %loopholes which various
actions at law have disclosed.
A recent ruling in an Austrian SUI
perior court in this city is of interest
because 1t shows both the letter and
spirit of the "anti-speculation laws
which nave been adopted.
In this case three Galicians had
bought a relatively small quantity of
foodstuff, mostly grain. AT the trial
it was shown thai the three dealers
had sold the articles again in the same
town, in n instance wheat had been
resold to its original owner. A profit
mad been made, and q slight increase
in the price of food made from the
articles in question, had resulted, it
was proven
The court ruled that under the law
this was an o~ffense, because the sale
and resale of the articles had been
by the defendants with a profit
to which they We're not entitled, having
added neither to the value of the
articles. nor facilitated their distribu-
tlon. Ihey had, in fact, found the
judge, rendered distribution more diff
ficult by holding the articles for a GER
tain time.
The defense was that the accused had
acted within their constitutional rights
by buying n selling as they had done.
ana That they had not hampered dis
tribution, because they had at all times
beer ready to sell. But the prosecu-
ton obliged the defendants to make
the admission that they had held for a
higher price. whereupon the court
round that this was now an offense,
because to hold necessities for the
gaining of a profit, through the opera-
ton Of the aw Of supply and demand.
was illegal.
Heavy penalties of Imprisonment and
mes We're imposed upon the three
dealers. 9
Austria did not always have such a
law. Taking this view Of economics is
4 @ a rnSJ1If ~ g
spirit that nobody shall gain at the ex-
pense OF the other when THE other is
likely to be at the front, risking his
life for his country and leaving his
FAMILY in Strengthened circumstances
perhaps.
To deal for profit has become
very dangerous and Improbable enter
PRISE In Austria today. But the Hun
garian government, which hitherto has
not been obliged to concern itself m,,ch
with his problem is also beginning to
act has greater food re-
sources than Austria, and, for this
reason. spectators have not found 50
good a field there. Food stuffs have
been so relatively plentiful there that
SO Tar, tor instance, it has no been
tnougnt necessary to regulate the con-
sumption Of bread by means Of a bread
card, almost universally used in Aus
tria.
Contrary to opinions generally held.
in interior affairs, Austria and Hin
gary have nothing in common. On this
account, Hungary is now improving
her own "a~ntispeculation laws"
Before the Hungarian diet. NOW In
session, Is a bill, introduced by the
hungarian minister of Justice. Accord
ing TO which no person outside of a
trade or industry, or without the spe-
cial permission of the authorities, may
buy or sell, for purposes of gaining
profit through Snani,1ofior 49,. r..o
stuff or other necessity of life. This
means that only a miller may huy
grain and only a baker flour, and then
no more than what he will need for the
requirements of his business. The
bill. which is sure to pass, provides a
maximum penalty of two years' i'm
.prisonment n a fine Of 20, 700 crowns.
Another bill, from the same source.
provides for a penalty of three years
imprisonment and a fine Of 10000
crowns, for he person who wilfully
destroys or depreciates h quantity
and quality of food stuffs. Persons
convicted of this offense may also be
deprived fer three years OF all civil
and political rights.
Heretofore speculation in Hungary
has been curbed principally by means
OF a law, reading as follows.
The ministry may, for the duration
or the war, in order to assure to the
population a steady supply Of food
stuffs and necessities and to prevent
the forcing up of prices, apply suitable
In the production and dis
~tribution OF these articles. included
among them such emergency regula-
tons as are needed ever If these be in
conflict with existing laws"
a similar law was adopted in Aus
tria. but In both countries SPECTATORS
tried hard to eyade the letter and spirit
OF the regulations which resulted from
It. Most of those who have done so
been made to account. and In
dealing with them the civil courts have
been less relenting than even the milf
tary authorities. Meanwhile a lesson in
economies Is taught, which, as many
here believe, Will not be without bere-
fetal influence after the war. The goy-
crnment's campaign against the .ise-
less middleman" and Spectator is foi-
lowed by the consumer with an inter-
est 2 Appreciation not likely to ter