New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04

obviously In a bad way. There is q
shortage Of much even where sup
plies are most plentiful To the gen.
eral shortage must be added a sort
of general dilapidation Of productive
enginery and transportation.
Priority Rules
Over Profit
What is to be done about it? What
IS beginning to be done in the United
States is the subject Of daily expo
sition. There are measurably good
supplies of most commodities in this
country, but the matter is not con-
sidered in relation TO self-contain-
rnent. It is necessarily considered in
relation to the Allied nations, Of
which the United States is one. This
is practical. The world, however, Is
in want, and ultimately consideration
will and must be given TO the needs
of all nations, whether 1t is practical
or sentimental. Just now supplies
are being distributed within individ-
ual countries according to need and
without regard to profit. Supplies,
particularly war supplies, are being
distributed among the Allied nations
according to need and with no regard
whatever to profit, although profit
may be very large. Priority rules
over profit everywhere under the
jurisdiction of appointed authority
Priority may and probably will con-
tinue to be considered for some time
after the war closes. All of this is
IN defiance of profit. The end sought
is the satisfaction of the wants Of the
people or the nations, and to those
wants the offers Of those who are
better able to pay are secondary. If
New York is better able to pay for
fuel than Michigan, but Michigan's
needs are more urgent, Michigan
gets the coal in these days. SINH
larly, if England needs wheat, Eng
land gets what can be spared with.
out having her agents dislocate the
whole price fabric by bidding accord
ing to her needs and thereby making
all consumers pay tribute to those
who can supply England's wants for
wheat. Ships are going hereafter
where they are most needed, not
where they can earn the highest
freights.
None Of these actions is based on
the ancient and presumably inviola-
be law of supply and demand. OF
course, the policy, il it may yet be
so termed, springs from a demand
which knows no bounds or from \
supply that has pronounced limita-
tons. But the ruling motive is the
filling of needs. This must continue
after the war. The needs Of the ma
tons will not subside. They are not
likely, under probable progress in
the work of readjustment, 70 become
normal for some years. The demand
of the world for all sorts of COM
modities is certain TO continue for
an almost indefinite time, and for an
almost indefinite time, therefore, in
genuity in production, economy in
management and efficiency in every
department of endeayor must con-
tinue.
This new order will not be aban-
doned for return to the old. Ex-
travagance is not TO be substituted
for economy. Waste is not going to
supplant thrift. Labor saving devices
are not going to be abandoned. That
is, none Of these will be readopted by
a world Of business which has
learned new and better and more ef-
fective and profitable methods. And
the idea of service TO tho public will
be still further developed because it
will be found that there is nothing
antagonistic between service and
profit.
Remarkable Progress
OF the Railroads
The railroads have made greater
progress in applied efficiency and
economy under the lash Of war needs
than any other business. In the face
Of the greatest obstacles they have
made a remarkable showing Gov
eminent and its agencies turned
about in their attitude toward the