The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-01-03
SOLUTION Of In|DD[[|IIAn| PROBLEM
NAY BEQAEQf llAR'S RlIPRQlggI8

~ go Si9sislt III u - q Y u & x
Sbesause hold stiles for the
gaining otl 9 PROF. 8 ,ttToa e the opera
ton OF the law Of supply and Dc:
smand was illegal. +: \. an, rs
Heavy penalties of imprisonment
and .hnes we're imp upon the three
dealers., :. & ~ 3 ,s..
Austria did not always have such e
jaw. Taking this way Of economtcs fs
distinctly result Of the the
spirit that ,nobody shall gain at the cxi
pense OF the other when sthe Other" Is
likely to 9be at the front, risking his
life for4 his country and leaving his
family in Strengthened circumstance.
perhaps. =. Z; " \
ITO IDEAL for profit. has become "a
very dangerous. and Improbable ente3
prise ID Austria today. But the Hun
igarian government, which hitherto has
not been Obliged to concern ITSELF
much with this problem is also be-
ginning to act. Hungary has greater
food resources than Austria, and, fof
tt1is reason, REGULATORS .hnya not found
so good a field there. !. Foodstuffs faYc
been 90 relatively plentiful there that
so far, for instance, 1t has not been
thought necessary to regulate. the cor:
sumption.o of bread by means of a bread
card, almost universally used IN Aus
tria., q -4
Contrary to opinions generally held,
in interior AFFAIRS Austria aud Hun
gary have nothing in, common. On
this account, Hungary is now improyy'
ing her own "anti.speculation laws"
Before the Hungarian diet, now in
aeSsfon. is a';bilI, introduced by the
hungarian minister OF Justice accord
ing to which no person outside OF
trade or industry, or without the spe-
cial permission OF the authorities, may
st,uyfTorG sell. for purposes OF gaining
profit through speculation, any food
stuff or other necessity Of life. This
means that only a miller may buy
gain and only a baker -four, and then
no more than he will need for the re-
duIrements OF his own business. The
bill, which is sure to pass, provides a
maximum. penalty OF two years I'M
nrisonment and a fine of 20, 900 crowns
Another bin, from tho same source.
provides. for a penalty OF three years.
Imprisonment and a fine Of 10000
crowns, for the person who wtitully
DESTROYS or depreciates the quantity
and quality Of foodstuffs. Persons COR
yicted OF this offonsc may also be de-
nriyed for three years OF all civil aud
political rights.
Heretofore speculation in Hungary
has heon curbcd principally by means
of'a law, reading as follows:
"The ministry may, for the duration
OF the war, In order to assure tc the
population a steady supply OF food:
stufrs and necessities and to prevent
the forcing up OF prices, apply suitable
measures in the production and sd1strl
hutton OF these articles, included
among them such emergency reEula.
lions as. are, needed even Il these be
IN conftct with existing laWs:H
IA. similar Law was adopted in Aus
+-ia. but in both countries specuiatorss
tried hard to evade the letter and
spirit of the regulations which result
ed from It. Most. OF those who nave
done 10 have been made to account,
and in. dealing with them the. civil
courta have been less relenting than
even the military authorities. can,
Tsftle.a lesson In economics is taught,
which, as many here believe, VIII not
be without beneficial influence after
the war. The governments campaign
aEaitlstr the useless mtddleman and
speculetor ia followed by the consum'
er with an interest and .appronation
not hkeiytto terminate with the com @
ing of peace. .4's.,, Ut.