New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-31


appeared uncompromising at the start.
On the basis Of s2.20 at Chicago the
food administration worked out to-
night differentials for the various
grades and classes and for the several
terminals. Under this the New York
price will be 10 cents above the Chi
cago figure.
Higher Than 1918 Figure
The price fixed tonight is 20 cents
higher than that named for the 1918
crop by Congress in the food control
bill The 50 price set by Congress was
taken into consideration by the com
mittee in considering a fair valuation
for :his years crop.
Members of the committee said to-
night they expected a great deal OF
criticism from farmers, but they felt
every farmer should consider himself
part of the war machinery of the gov
ernment and willingly relinquish part
of his profits in the interests OF the
common good.
Great pressure was brought to bear
on the committee from many quarters
to set the price at higher figure than
that named, but the final decision,
members of the committee declared,
represented a majority opinion of what
is fairest to all the interests OF the
country.
In its statement to the President the
committee recites the factors consid-
cred in its discussions. Chief among
them was the mounting cost OF living
The condition of world markets also
was given careful thought, as was the
probable effect Of an early termination
of the war, which would loose great
stocks Of wheat in other countries now
tied UP because Of lack of shipping.
The cost of production came in for
considerable attention. Experts Of the
Department Of Agriculture were asked
for production cost figures, and the
committee studied data supplied by
growers organizations. 1t was realized
that some growers would be forced to
sell their wheat at loss, while many
others would make a high profit.
Besides DR.. Garfield, the chairman,
the other members present were:
Charles L. Barrett, Georgia, presl-
dent of the Farmers Union; Eugene T..
Funk, Illinois, president Of the Corn
Growers Association; Edward +. Ladd,
president of the North Dakota Agri-
cultural College; L. W. Shorthill, Ne
braska, secretary of the National Coun-
ell of Farmers Cooperative Associa-
tions; l.. L. Tabor, master Ohio State
Grange; Henry L. Waters, president
Kansas Agricultural College; W. n.
Doak. Roanoke, Va, vice-president
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen;
James ". Sullivan, New York. the
American Federation of Labor; +. w.
Taussig, chairman of the Tariff Com
mission, and Theodore n. Vail, presl-
dent of the American Telephone ana
Telegraph Company.
Presidents Statement
A statement by the President re-
garding the price-hxing says:
Section IL of the food act provides,
among other things, for the purchase
and sale of wheat and -four by the
government, and appropriates money
for the purpose.
"The purchase Of wheat and -four for
our allies, and TO a considerable degree
for neutral countries also, has been
placed under :he control Of the Food
| have appointed q
committee to determine a fair price to
be paid in government purchases. The
price now recommended by that COM
mittee S2.20 a bushel at Chicago for
the basic grade will be rigidly ad-
hered to.
at is the hope and expectation Of the
Food Administration and my own that
this step at once stabilize and keep
within moderate bounds the price OF
wheat for all transactions throughout
the present crop year, and IN conse-
quence the prices of -four and bread
also. The food act has given large
powers for the control of storage and
exchange operations, and these powers
will be fully exercised.
"The Food Administrator now fixes
fOT It's puTCnaStS ldIf price, hs ttC-
commended unanimously by committee
representative Of all interests and all
sections, and believes that thereby it
will eliminate speculation, make pos
sible the conduct OF every operation in
the full light of day. maintain the pub
licly stated price for all, and, through
economies made possible by stabiliza-
tion and control, better the position Of
consumers also.
"Mr Hoover, at his express wish.
has taken no part in the deliberations
of the committee, nor has he in any
way intimated an opinion regarding
that price"
"In consideration OF the foregoing
facts and circumstances, this commit
tee respectfully recommends that the
price on No. I Northern spring wheat,
or its equivalent, at Chicago be SEQ
per busheL"