The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-12-21

messagage, thereby obtaining a general
review W Of the relations between the
government and the country will there
fore bebe disappointed with President
Wilsonbn's rather brief communication
which a declares upon only three i'm
|portantnt points of legislation. He re-
views h his recommendation for passage
Of measasures to prevent D nation wide
strike n and asks for immediate provis-
ion for )r the enlargement and admins.
trative e reorganization Of the Inter
state CCCommerce Commission "in order
that ththe Commission may be enabled
to deal al with the many great and var
ious dututies now devolying upon it with
a prommptness and thoroughness which
are. wiEith it's present constitution and
means 5 of action practically impos-
sible." The President also recon-
mends Is legislation to remove the diff
culties S that exist in the nature of OBJ
s%tacles $ to foreign trade. Besides this,
he asksks for new legislation with refer
ence 10 O Porto Rico.
That It is the legislative program up
to date. e. and the congress accepts it as
coming x in the manner of instruction
from ththe President. The members may
be ~expepected to get busy along these
importatant lines.
The High Cost Of Living
That t prices in articles of food are
longager governed by supply and de
al appears to be generally accepted
by thosose who have looked into the
problemm. surrounding the high cost of
The boycott has been effectual
for brie.ief periods in some of the large
cities. But the boycott, as a rule,
punishehes the retail dealer. and he is
rarely t to blame for the high prices he
is obligdged to charge his customers.
Unququestionably "the great prosper
ity" inchcident TO the war is responsible
for thehe high prices of necessities,
which a are causing SO much suffering
among Z the common people. In Wash
n there is lots of talk about i'm
vestigatations," and among the legisla-
ton thdhat is gaining in favor is that
which P proposes an embargo on food
1t Is expected that the Presi-
dent will call upon congress in the
very n,near future for some kind Of
affirmatative-and possibly radical legis-
I, with reference to the fabulous
prices + now being charged for stand
ard artirticles OF food and merchandise.
That ththe situation is not only becom-
ing woyorse every week must be clear
to eyerpryone who is Obliged to husband
their fl financial resources. Emphasis
Of this is fact is found in the National
Capital al itself where the number of rob
berries a and hold-ups have been greater
tg the past month than during n
p%reviouOus time in history. The Depart
ment @ Of Justice, the Federal Trade
C~ommimission, and other branches Of
the FeCederal Government are reaching
in Il the direction of some of the men
who hahave been unwarrantedly boost
ing pritrices; and it is to be expected
hat ththey will make it very hot for a
perpetrators who have a corner on
certain n products, However, it is not
be g expected that punitive punish
nent atat this time will succeed in reach.
ng theh underlying conditions. Amer
ca hasas been getting its profits from
he bododies and souls of the European
l~ationsns, and the time has come, as
Robert It ". Service relates in his great
,oem, when this country must pay
he billill." Many proposals have been
bef,efore congress, and an attempt is
icing n made in many directions to get
It the r. root of the evils and difficulties.