Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-05-23
WEDNESDAY. MAY p. 1917.


INT NifNAlAl+ vt NAhA tW htAt AhAA AtfN~N
WHO are opposed u CRYING HIM authority
10 fix maximum and minimum prices thai
he does not believe it viii become neces-
sary 70 exercise the authority Re wants.
lie j. advocating ii a~ 4 measure ~ pre-
caution. II il the familiar gun behind
ths-door argument.
This j. about thc best. and perhaps the
ofsy argument that l. 10 be made Tor thi-
proposal, as The News has heretofore re-
marked. Bat Il il much more applicable
10 The idea ~ fixing maximum prices than
TO that 81 fixing minimum prices. About
the only reason IL III advanced for guar
antecing minimum prices H. that the far
mers viii probably be indueal 70 pro-
daee lergyr erops than they would il they
were eNheSed to the danger II los prices
resulting from oeerproductioni There are
fw9 answers ~ tbs argument. One IS
that The ~ti1ne-ls stimulate thc productive
energies ~ the farmer~ has pretty well
passed They have pitched their crops,
for tha1ns lsrt. and the Weld will ~
d~ettruifTet- rirfsy by iniinenes~ fa4 with
insshd@NEnse< F~nrffpfnote. Tar
anty of ,nsA hfdhr prices. u have ~tinmIa-
tive efffefs hiu>t be made positively and III
Advances End not promised a. q conhne
u sf The future.
A ID tie fixing ~ maximum prices. one
can readily see that the mere existence of
the power t. do s. might eHeehaily pre-
eiude the need. of having to exercise the
power. The mere knowledge that fle
president could prescribe 4 maximum leg
III charge for D commodity would operate
a. a deterrent Influence on men who
might BE- tempted ~ initiate prices BIZ ar-
r~iiicial processes. " prices should -
high e. 4 result 81 natural causes. 81 would
be uniuf-t to the produce to lower lleni
hy the highly artificial -oce-ses of IA
executive order. and ii m ht ~ econo-
pically inexpedient, since high prices. The
effect cf SCARCITY, become the cause Of
economy of consumption, which scarcity
makes desirable.
To give The president this authority may
be desirable a~ y measure against \ con
i~ineency which, il remote, would ~ ex-
ceedingly ~erien~ If Id should arise. prae-
pcally considered. however. tie safest and
most effective %prccauti0n w. can probably
take is III make sure of q free nlay for
the law of supply and demand. To r. this
viii require prompt ANA vigorous rcbre-
sion of monelloli-re practice and the
supply II quick and ample transportation
facilities. Whether the Sherman law af
lords ample means to prevent -monopoi-
tc practice mas he questionable. But
there can w ~ doub, that the conditions
and the mood of the country are highly
favorable Tor the use of amy f~aciiitie. ID
inay give. The country VIII ~ ~ intol-
ttani ~ i~lonopoii,tic practice. WY to make
IL easy to intiict thc heaviest rcnaltie.
which j preScribes. and these are of y
Kind which Grip individuals rather thnn
corporate entities. Thr maxim that ".nHt
Is personal Wonld be pretty sure Of ana
plication -aeain.t auy Individuals .whn
iAieht attempt %evtortion at 4 Time Ike
.flis.
THE other preeauiion-tbai of making
sure of quick AMID dauuatc transportation
iacihiies-would hc amply taken by grant
~ ihe president request for power "
control freight rmcnf-. nv exercising
power he could -sieiraek ail ears
l!aacds with cfumodities not urgently
f,eded AZ their points of destination aud
90 right "a way to car- loaded with
ifose which are needed. Douisles. IKE
q lroad- lire doing this noW to some ex-
'f,nt- hui their ability Is limited lv the need
n avoid claims Tor da1aaees where ship
mcnts wefc unduly delayed. The, would
H. relieved M this liability En- they could
riead the president order in excuse OF
delays. This i- donhile- lhe Immediate
purpose ~ asking ior tti- legislation.
IaaAx. be coiHled a- one "a chs val-
liable lessons the couutIy vii learn under