Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1917-09-06
GENERAL FEELING THAT GRAIN
GROWERS OF WEST ARE DIS
CRIMINATED AGAINST.
W|LLNfANAB0UT$l.75HERE
Every Effort Possible is Being Made
to Have the Government Give Fair
Rate For West

The farmers of Camas Prairie along
with those in the balance of the, North.
west We're not agreeably affected when
they heard that price of wheat had been
fixed at 1920 in Chicago. This means
that with the freight of 30 cents per
bushel to Chicago deducted from the
standard price and lurther reductions
due to grading that the price of wheat
at the warehouse in this section will
hover around $1.75.
Since the price fixing, dissatisfaction
is general in the western states and one
exchange says alleged determinations
against this section in establishing grain
price and regulations was apparent in
United Press dispatches received here
from various points in Washington,
Idaho and Oregon.
On the basis of 1920 at Chicago, grain
men say the best grades of northwest
wheat will not bring over $1.90.
Washington, Oregon and Idaho cannot
produce the great amount of grain the
government asks at this comparatively
low price, they say in many sections
farmers are said to be threatening TO
feed their grain to hogs rather than to
put it on the market at the government
figures.
A determined effort was made to have
the government put price for wheat at
northwest ports. Such a move, it is de-
clared, would make easier the export of
wheat from Seattle, Tacoma and Port
land and would give the farmer more
for his crops.
Herbert Hoover received two tele-
grams in which Chicago protested that
the announced wheat differentials are
plainly discriminatory against it and in
favor of St. Louis.
st. Louis wired that the differentials
are plainly discriminatory in Chicago's
favor as against st. Louis.
The announcement was made at the
White House in the following statement
by the president:
''Section ii of the food act provides,
among other things, for the purchase
and sale of wheat and flour by the
government, and appropriates money for
the purpose. The purchase of wheat
and flour for our allies, and to con-
siderable degrees for neutral countries
also, has been placed under the control
of the food administration. i have APP
pointed q committee to determine a fair
price to be paid in government pur-
chases. The price now recommended by
that committee-$2.20 per bushel at
Chicago for the basic grade--will be
rigidly adhered to by the food admins.
traitor.
Will Use Full Power.
''It is the hope and expectation of
the food administration, and my own
also, that this step will at once sta
bilize and keep within moderate bounds
the price of wheat for all transactions
throughout the present crop year, and in
consequence the prices of flour 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. An inevitable
consequence will be that financial deal
ings cannot follow their usual course.
Whatever the advantages and disad-
vantages of the ordinary machinery of
trade, it cannot function well under
such disturbed and abnormal conditions
as now exist, In its place the food ad-
ministration now fixes for its purchases
a fair price as recommended unanimous
ly by IA committee representative of all
sections, and believes that thereby it
will eliminate speculation, make pos
sible the conduct and every operation
in the full light of day, maintain the
publicity stated price for all and through
economics made possible by stabihzationl
and control, better the position of con-
sumers also.
The report of the committee addressed
to the president follows:
''The undersigned committee has been
asked by you to recommend the price
which the government should pay for
the 1917 crop of wheat.
SIN it's deliberations the committee
has kept constantly in mind the three
following factors:
"'First the fact that the United
States is at war
Second, the need of encouraging
the producer.
Third, the necessity of reducing the
cost of living to the consumer.
''The normal laws of supply and de
mand have been violently interfered
with and congress has undertaken TO
offset this disturbance by comforting ex
traordinary powers upon the president
TO stabilize prices.
"Each of the foregoing factors grow
out of conditions which have received
the careful attention of the committee.
Chiefly among them are that the wheat
weld in great and important section
of the country has this year been below
normal; that over against this situation
is the crying need among the whole
body of the population, especially the
wage earners, that the rising tide Of