Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-14

VI L - M w "A OEMl-W GGhl
cover costs Of the operation and ar
rangements will be made which will in
sure the government against loss and
a properly constituted and independent
auditing committee will check all
transactions at every point
] '.The food administration, under these
arrangements, would have large influ.
| ence in affecting the price of wheat
With view to determining fair price
the president has approved the ap-
pointment of committee to be
selected from repres entatives of the
productive sections and consuming ele-
ments in the community
f; TO AVOID BOARDING.
This committee will be assembled
under the craftsmanship of President
, Garfield of Williams college, and it
will be the duty Of this committee to
determine a fair price for the 1917
harvest. Upon the determination OF
this fair price it is the intention of the
food administration to use every
authority given it under the bill to
effect the universally Of this fair
basis throughout the whole Of the 1917
harvest year without change or fluctu-
alton.
ut should thus be clear that it will
not be to the advantage of any pro-
Queer to hold back his grain in antici.
patton of further advances, for he will
do SO only at his own cost of storage
and interest, and If 1t Is necessary for
the government to buy the entire
wheat harvest in order to maintain
this fair price in protection of the pro
Queer we intend to do so.
POINTS TO LAWS BAN.
Furthermore, the holding Of wheat
or flour contracts by persons not en-
gagged in the trade. and even when in
trade, in larger quantities than is nee
essary for the ordinary course OF their
business Is unlawful under the act, ana
such cases will be prosecuted with big
or. And we would advise such holders
to liquidate their contracts at once
by the above agreement we be-
lieve that we shall stabilize the price
Of wheat throughout the year; that the
hazards Of operation due to fluctuating
prices which are imposed upon our mil !;
ling and distributing communities Will |
be eliminated and therefore their bus |
mess can return to the normal lines
and the normal margins Of profit and /,
that we shall not only have stabilized
the price OF wheat, Dut eInuiiiAeu
the price Of bread.
'The food administration has had
the patriotic cooperation Of the leading /
millers Of the country and these mil
lers have organized at the request or
the food administration committee TO
represent the entire trade.
STABLE PRICE ASSURED.
Detailed proposals for an agreed
diferential of profit and expenses per
I,r. %>r >f nn1 oYnI
under discussion. Under this arrange
ment the public will be assured Of an
equitable and stabilized price of flour
based upon the cost Of raw material,
and we confidently expect the volun-
teer arrangement with the mills will !,
give satisfaction to the public.
The universal endeavor over the
country to reduce consumption OF
wheat breadstuffs in order that we may
have the requisite exports with which
to carry the allies over the forthcom-
ing winter will result in a largely in
creased amount Of wheat available for
export. If it were exported as wheat, 1t
would result in diminution of employ
men in our mills and, Of equal import
ance, curtailment Of supply Of mill feed
for our dairy cattle.
TO EXPORT FLOUR.
Therefore the food administration
will stipulate for a large proportion Of
export Of flour instead Of wheat, and
as the export orders for flour will be
given subject to the approval Of the
food administration, those mills that
cooperate with the administration will
be given the benefit Of the exports en- |,
ployment BY thus encouraging the
home production of flour the manufac- Ii
turing cost will be reduced and, there
fore, the American public will receive
indirect benefit in lowered margins OF
cost in distribution.
I'm accordance with the policy Of the
to cooperate with all :
trades, we are this week also discuss /,
ing details OF voluntary arrangements
with flour distributors by which agreed
maximum differentials may be effect
ed in the wholesale trade.
COST OF BAKING.
An exhaustive investigation is be-
ing made into the cost Of baking and
sions are being carried on with the
plans for the elimination Of waste in
the industry and the production Of a
loaf.
1T Is impossible to anticipate the
price to be enunciated by the fair price
under DR.. Garfield, and it
probably will require two or three
weeks in its determination
THE names of the committees are
being submitted to the president and
will be announced early.
1.-THE basis of determination will be
to arrive at price which represents a
fair return to the producer for his pa
triotic endeavor to increase the supply,
and a proper reduction Of the cost Of