The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-06-24
WILSON PUTS
SPUR TOPRICE :
FIXING BOARD
Bids Federal Commission
Speed Cost Inquiry to
Fill War Needs.
"a FIZZLE," SAYS REED
Daniels Backs Seizure Of Oil
for Fleets--Calls Fuel
Shortage Serious.
"a FIZZLE," SAYS REED


Federal Trade Commission this after
noon and for half an hour personally
went over the matter with the Commis-
sioners.
1t was made plain by to-day's de-
vsiopmsnts that the President regards
this matter as one Of the biggest prob
lens confronting his Administration In
the conduct Of the war. and IL deter
mined to have the cost Of materials probed
to the limit as q basis for Government
prices So far. however. he Is understood
to have given no encouragement to sone
Of the more radical Of hrs advisers. who
would have the Government take steps
At once to assume control OF various
plants and industries. distributing their
output and scaling down costs wherever
possible In order to bring down prices.
But In determining the Governments
final policy much Is likely to depend on
the character OF the report Of the Fed
eral Trade Commission relative to cost
Of production OF coal. oil, steel and
cement.
The President said that his visit to
the Trade Commission was for the pur-
pose Of getting information. He saw
Chairman Harris alone and later saw
the commission as q body. His chief
object 10 understood to have been to get
the commission to speed up their investi-
cations. pending which the Government
will 70 ahead with its purchases on
tentative price basis, the actual prices to
be fxed on the costs a. disclosed by the
commission.
Federal beard Ready t. Act.
The entire machinery Of the Federal
Trade Commission 10 to be applied At
once to these investigations. The oom-
mission is regarded here - still being
more or less on trial 10 many It's work
thus far has bsen disappointfug. Demo-
orats had looked forward to II ~ being
nopoly evils Some Of them have been
complaining lately that Its Investigations
have accomplished little and its attempts
at adjustment Of well known evils have
been abortive. Senator Reed said OF 1t
In the Senate:
What has become of the great Fed
eral Trade Commission that was loudly
heralded by some OF the gentlemen who
are now most earnest In their advocacy
of this bill as q complete remedy for all
unfair forms OF competition: commits
sion that was described as supreme
court of commerce and that we were told
would prevent extortion and over
reaching Of every kind and would usher
In the day when business would be con-
Quoted in accordance with the principles
of the Golden Rule?
"Is Il not fair to conclude that the
fact Of the conspiracy 10 in doubt or that
the Federal Trade Commission 10 .
nazler'
The President II believed to have ap-
piled the spur to-day to the commission.
In this instance II has been asked to
TX prices a. we'll A. to ascertain the
cost Of production. 1t Ia understood
that some Of the commissioners have not
taken kindly to tho suggestion that they
become Q price fixing board. The ques-
tion Of deliveries 10 recognised ~ being
an important factor In price nxing. Sec
rotary Baker for example has gone
ahead and paid prices conditioned on
quick deliveries.
win War, Dafach says.
Chairman Bernard Baruch Of the COM
mittee on raw materials said to-day:
"Winnlng Of the war II all that
counts. Materials should be bought at
the lowest price possible with full pro-
duction. 1t is of no value to cut costs
IL output Is reduced below the need.
The thing most important ID to ret ma
terials for shipbuilding and get them
quickly. We must get busy and give
some one authority to act. Squabbles
over prices between people without au-
thority to buy or sell are idle"
Secretary Daniels told the Senate
Committee on Public Lands to-day that
price f,xins for coal and oil would be-
come absolutely mandatory in . very
short while. or as an alternative the
Government would b. compelled to COM
mAndeer all coal and oil lands to con-
serve the supplies needed for the navy
Secretary Daniels appeared IN opposi-
tion TO the Walsh leasing bill. which
provides for the development OF the
coal and mineral oil resources OF the
public domain through private enter
prise under Government regulation. The
Secretary told the committee the navy
was now building oil burning ships to
classea In all, he said. more than 900
| ships, every ono Of them q consumer OF
| LIQUID fuel. were under construction now
'They are making the argument now
| that the oil situation In California Is
very critical and growing more critical
| said the Secretary. There is no doubt
there " q great need there for the oil
but on the other hand we cannot run
! ships without oil and without oil prod.
ucts we cannot run ships or aeroplanes
or motors"
Plan 20 Lease Tracts.
The Walsh bill proposes to permit III,
| leasing OF portions OF oil tracts undel
Federal supervision. Senator Pheian Of
California thinks Secretary Daniels de