New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-08
President Moves
To Hasten Inquiry
Into War Costs
Visits the Federal Commits
sion to Urge Speeding
of Work
Many Problems Met
Officials Expect Trouble in
Finding Means to Protect
Public
Many Problems Met

WASHINGTON, Aug. President
Wilson turned his attention to-day TO
war prices, and paid personal visit to
the Federal Trades Commission to urge
expedition of Investigations to ascer-
tain the costs Of producing materials
required by the government.
At the Presidents direction the COM
mission has undertaken inquiries to de-
termine production costs on most Of the
basic supplies needed for war uses, in
GLIDING coal, coke, steel, iron, petro-
leum, tin, aluminium, wire, zinc, copper,
lead, cement, lumber and their dsrivs-
tives. Preliminary reports will be
forthcoming within a few weeks.
Announcement of definite policy re-
specting war purchases and prices prob
ably will be made soon. Administra'
tion officials generally already have
rather clearly defined ideas 10 the
course the government will pursue.
War profits will be kept to a minimum,
end if producers and manufacturers
evince any great unwillingness to sup
ply the country's war needs at reason
able prices, the governments power to
commander materials will be invoked.
The Administrations hope Is, however,
that this will never become necessary.
Public's Protection Is Problem
The biggest problem now occupying
officials studying war prices is protec-
tion for the general public. Although
the proposal il meeting determined OPP
position, the Administration intends
that the Allies shall share with this
government in reduced costs for sup
plies. This is easy of accomplishment,
since the American government, il ne
gotiations with producers fail to pro-
ducs the desired results, can go into
the market and itself buy for its ssso-
ciates.
1t is realized, however, that heavy
government purchases will tend to
raise prices to private consumers, and
this presents an obstacle that is caus-
ing concern. IL there is any way to
accomplish it, the Administration de-
sres to keep prices generally down
without resort to legislation. Some Of
ficials believe this can be done in an
indirect way when the new War In
dustries Board begins to decide pr!
ority of manufacture and shipment Of
goods.
Policy To Be Known To-day
The war board will meet again TO-
morrow, and probably will make known
a buying policy, so far as questions of
priority and procedure are concerned.
The present plan is to consolidate
American and Allied government war
purchases through the central pur-
chasing committee, which is a part Of
the war board. In fact, officials of the
Council of National Defence for some
time have been passing on all Allied
contracts, although the subject OF
prices has been left to negotiations be-
tween the American seller and the for
eign buyer.
Trade Commission officials admit
their investigation Of production costs
is proceeding slowly. This is due, it
Is said, to the fact that great burden
OF work has been thrown on the COM
mission for which it was poorly pre-
pared. Before war was declared the
commissions efforts were directed
largely toward protecting the public
against unfair trade practices.
Working Force Swamped
A small force was used on economic
and when the commi s.
sion was directed 70 inquire into the
cost Of producing some Of the chief
commodities needed for war it found
itself swamped with work.
The commission some time ago be-
gan inquiries into the fuel and lumber
industries, and data on production
costs Of these materials will be ready
soon. When it started an investigation
into steel it discovered il had a tre-
mendous task. A preliminary report
on steel prices, however, also,will be
made shortly.
Although charged only with an in
uf costs, IL is entirely like
w the commission will make sugges
tons as to what il considers fair
prices for materials and that the War
Board will follow closely its recon-
mendations.