Charlevoix county herald., 1917-08-24
Will Control
Price of Wheat
Food Control Bill Does Not Fix
Minimum Price For 1917 Crop,
and This Must Be Kept Within
Reason, to Curb Spectators.

n
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
viii be assembled under the chairman
ship Of President Garfield Of Williams
college, and 10 win be tho duty Of this
committee to determine fair price for
the 1917 harvest. Upon the determine
ton Of this fair basis II Ii the inten-
ton Of the food administration to use
every authority given 1t under the bill
and the control OF exports to effect the
universality Of this fair basis through
out the whole Of the 1917 harvest year
without change or huctuation. 1t
should thus be clear that 1t viii not be
to the advantage Of any producer to
hold back his grain In anticipation of
further advance, for he will do so only
at his own cost Of storage and interest,
and II 1t IL necessary for the govern
ment to buy the entire wheat harvest,
In order to maintain this fair price In
protection Of the producer. the food ad-
ministrators intend to do 30.
A Blow at Spectators.
Furthermore, the holding Of wheat or
-four contracts by persons not engaged
In the trade, and even when In trade,
In larger quantities than are necessary
for the ordinary course Of their bust
ness Is unlawful under the act, and
such cases viii be prosecuted with Wig
or And such holders would be advised
to liQuidate their contracts at once.
by the above arrangement We be-
lieve that we shall stabilize the price Of
wheat throughout the year, that the
hazards Of operation due to ductuating
prices which are imposed upon our
milling and distributing community
will be eliminated, and therefore their
business can return to the normal lines
and the normal margins of profit, and
that we shall not only have stabilized
the price Of wheat, but stabilized the
price OF -four, and that II should enable
us to arrive at stabilized price Of
bread" says the board.
The food administration has had the
patriotic cooperation of the leading
miilers Of the country, and these mill
ers have organized at the request Of
the food administration committee to
represent the entire trade. Detailed
proposals for an agreed differential Of
profit and expenses per barrel of -four
and per ton Of feed are under discus
sion. Under this arrangement the pub
lie will be assured an equitable and
stabilized price Of -four based upon the
cost OF raw material, and we confident
ly expect the volunteer arrangement
with the mills which will give satisfac-
ton to the public.
The universal endeavor over the
country to reduce consumption Of wheat
breadstuffs, I'm order that we may have
the requisite exports with which to
carry the allies over the forthcoming
winter, will result In largely increas-
ed amount Of wheat available for ex-
port. II II were exported as wheat IL
would result In diminution of employ
ment In our mills and, Of equal impOr-
lance, curtailment of supply Of mill
feed for our dairy cattle. Therefore
the food administration will stipulate
Tor a large proportion Of export Of
-four instead Of wheat, and as the ex-
port orders for -four will be given
subject to the approval of the food ad-
ministration those which cooperate
with the food administration will be
given the benefit of the exports en-
ployment. BY thus encourag cling the
home production of -four the manu-
featuring cost will be reduced, and
therefore the American public will re-
ceive indirect benefit In lowered mar
gins OF cost In distribution.
In accordance with the policy of the
administration to cooperate with all
trades, 1t Is also discussing details
OF voluntary arrangements with the
flour distributors by which agreed
differentials may be effected In the
wholesale trade.
Investigate Cost Of Baking.
An exhaustive Investigation 10 being
made into the cost Of baking and
bread distribution, and active discus
sions are being carried on with. the
bakers war emergency committee as
to plans for the elimination Of waste
In the industry and the production Of
a standard loaf.
1t Is impossible to anticipate the
price to be enunciated by the fair
price committee" under DR.. Garfield
and IL will probably require two or
three weeks In its determination.
The basis Of determination win be to
arrive at a price which represents a
fair return to the producer for his pa
trfotic endeavor to increase the supply
and a proper reduction of the cost of
dour to the consumer.
It must be evident to all thinking
persons that unless the price of wheat,
-four and bread can be materially re-
duced we cannot expect to maintain
the present wage scale Of the country
and that we must In this social read
tustment lose efficiency at a time when
we can afford no such sacrifice.