Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-02-23
Chicago Board of Trade Be- lieves l. c. c. Can Effect
 Improvement.
LONG TRAINS OF
 EMPTIES GO WEST
Altho Food Prices in Big Cities Con- tine tO Increase. Officials of Com mission and Railroads Say
 Acute Stage Passed.

Chicago, Feb. 22--A second tela- gram, in which there were traces Of an apology for the ugher tone of the first one sent yesterday. was put on the wires today to fine interstate com mercc commission by Joseph P. Gris- m, president of the Chicago board of trade.
 We recognize fully reads today's telegram, 'the respect due your hon. orablc board, and if Lave been en- phatic in my statements, you vii. understand it is because of the des- perate plight in which we find ou.- selves at this time"
 MT. Griffin explains that he now finds that the car order which he had been led to believe came from Interstate Commerce Commissioner McChord, really came from the ear service committee of the American Railway association. Ill his telegram or yesterday. acting on this mistake, Mr. Griffin accused of the interstate commerce commission of utter failure in the emergency and of having done more harm than good. He and his traffic committee conferred on the question of going into the courts or of an appeal to congress for prompt action to straighten out the matter.
 With the misunderstanding cleared up, tOday's conference was based on the assumption that relief might be expected of the interstate commerce commission. Mr. Griffin reiterated that grain trade of this section is in a desperate way. To,,ay's telegram also directs the commissions atten- tion to the fact that while 800 cars a week are being provided to Minne- apolis, Chicago "is virtually a closed market to the farmers O. the west"
 Discussing the telegram tonight. MT. Griffin admitted that the Minnea- polls cars were being used for ship ping flour east, instead of grain. Representatives here of eastern rail- roads admitted that the situation is the worst in the cOuntry's history, but refused to concur in Mir, Griffin; prediction of yesterday that if rem- edy is not found. there will be riot- ing and anarchy within thirty days.
 The railroad men said that with improved weather conditions, pref erence in the shipment of food and other measures adopted by the rail- roads, the situation should clear rap. idly.
 No Reduction In Sight,
 In the meantime, however, food prices in Chicago showed no signs of declining. Wholesalers generally predicted that still higher prices will prevail, before new crops are har- vested. They exhibite' government reports as to conditions. These showed that although the 1916 crop of potatoes was 45.000,000 bushels short. 3,500,O0O bushels of the white variety was exported, and the price jumped from S4 cents in December, 1915, to $1.57 twelve months later. This was the wholesale price on inn mense quantities. Since these figures were compiled. the price has ditional.
 The statistics do not include an i'm. mense amount of potatoes used in canned stews, used by the allied armies. In the latest British specifi- cations, potatoes were omitted be- cause of the price, but the Belgian re. lief commission is said to have pur- chased millions of pounds of these stews, including the tubers.
 Other vegetables have scared with potatoes. Onions, which sold at and 3 cents pound year ago. bring 12 and 15 cents pound now. The government report, according to wholesalers, shows that 479,947