Bisbee daily review., 1917-06-19
FAIR PLAY AND THE RAILROADS.

In the Ell Paso Morning Times of June 5th appeared
statement the Commerce Commission from
Mr. S. H. Cowan representing the National Livestock
Shippers Protective League to the effect that the
tons meat bill would be than $4,000
by the fifteen percent freight advance sought
by the railroads.
According to the January Q917) crop report of the
United States Department of Agriculture the average
value of cattle other than mich cows in the United
States. January 1st 1872 s2l2O per head while
January 1s 1917, the average value $685.
increase of 692 per in five years. This
quite independent of the the of produc-
ton True, there increase in the of produc-
ing during period freight rates evidently
had nothing do with it and there to
assume that advance in freight rates would
advance in the price of beef than attribute the rise
in livestock prices during the past five years freight
rates. The relative price of in the United States
for the next few is apt to down than to
regardless of changes in freight rates. AS the
prices of foodstuffs advance, people less of the
higher priced articles such meats and of the
expensive foods cereals vegetables fish and
dairy products.
The American people eat more meat per capita than
the people of any other civilized nation. but official sta
stics indicate substantial decrease of
meat consumed per capita in this country during the
last two or three years. due to in prices
Since the prices of be about all the
traffic will hear any added freight charges will have to-
come of the present profits of the producers mid
dlemen rather than be passed on to the consumer
Professor G. F. Warren of the foremost agricul-
tural authorities, says:
Man is so constituted that he likely think
that present conditions continue. If have al
year or two think that it will always be wet; ri
high prices these remain forever In the of
prices is the feeling of certainty that present
conditions to that makes impossible for
them to do So"
Stoc xmen know and most of them will admit, that
only distant and widely fuctuating relationship
production of livestock and the prices
Of meat Furthermore, most of them in the Southwest
will admit that with present prices the growing of live
stock is highly profitable When under present pros
porous conditions livestock makes the statement
Of meat either attempting to make it that
The consuming public will have the added charge
which he knows will come out of his own profts-or
elSe 10
ermne the prices of foodstus Why be frank about
matter say that they object to having their pro-
its reduced rather than display about the
latons meat bill?
Regarding the request for increase in freight rates
here is fundamental question in economics which lies
It the bottom of the whole matter. There has been
,henomonena in prices of practically all commod
the States since the outbreak of the war
Economists say that this rise in prices is caused by the
enormous amount of gold poured into this country in
payment of orders The increase in the supply OF
money has automatically decreased its purchasing power
rhe of anything governed by supply and demand
nless the operation of the supply and demand is
rtifcialy restricted This applies money well
o any other commodity. Money being now less rare
han formerly. has automatically caused an upward re-
adjustment in prices Freight rates which have remain
ID unchanged or practically So the actual trend having
,een downwards measured in dollars and cents have
rtualy decreased in the ratio has the buying
ace rates of transportation because such rates are
egulaed by the laws of the land and not by the free
operation of the law of supply and demand
The railroads asking this apparent advance in
reight rates to compensate in measure for the large
in expenditure made necessary by tn advanc-
ng prizes commodities that enter into the construction
maintenance operation railroads The advance of
fifteen percent is small in comparison to the
general advance prices clearly shown in the at
ached table showing relative prices of various materials
common to the operation of railroads.
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