The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-08-31
WILSON ACTS ON ADVICE
Of WHEAT commission
Basis Is Made No. | Hard
Winter Delivered on Mar
ket at Chicago.
"A COMPROMISE PRICE
president Hopes for Stabili-
baton and Benefit to
| Nations Consumers.
Continued From Page One)

and sale of wheat and flour by the
government and, appropriates money
for the purpose. The purchase of
wheat and flour for ouNallies and, to
O considerable degree, for neutral
countries also, has been placed under
the control of the food administration.
] have appointed committee to de-
termine a fair price to be paid in
government purchases. The price now
recommended by that committee-$2.2 20
per bushel at Chicago for the basic
grade-will be rigidly adhered to by
the food administration.
Will Act As Check on Flour.
1T is the hope and expectation of
the food administration. and my own
also. that this step will at once sta
Billie and keep within moderate
bounds the price Of wheat for all
: transactions throughout the present
crop year, and in consequence the
price of flour and bread also.
The food act has given large powers
for the control of storage and exchange
operations and these powers will be
fully exercised. An inevitable conse-
Quence will be that financial dealings
Whatever the advantages and disad-
vantages Of the ordinary machinery of
trade, 1t cannot function we'll under
such disturbed and abnormal condi-
tions as now exist.
Distinct Aid to Consumers.
I'm its place the food administration
has now fixed for its purchases a fair
price, as recommended unanimously by
q committee representative of all in
terests and all sections and believes
that thereby 1t will eliminate specula-
ton. make possible the conduct of
every operation in the full light of
day. maintain the publicly stated price
for all and through economies made
possible by sterilization and control,
better the position of consumers also.
Mr.. Hoover. at his expressed wish,
has taken no part IN the deliberations
of the committee on whose recon-
mendation l determine the govern
ment's fair price, nor has he in any
way intimated an opinion regarding
that price,"
The report of the committee ad-
dressed to the president follows:
Text Of Report.
hO COHIIIutlee hlS
been asked by you to recommend the
price which the government should
pay for the 1917 crop of wheat. Ii
its deliberations, the committee has
kept constantly in mind the three fol.
lowing factors:
'First-The fact that the United
States is at war.
-"Second-The need of encouraging
the producer.
"Third-The necessity of reducing
the cost. of living to the consumer.
Supply and Demand Law Violated.
Normal laws of supply and demsn'
have been violently interferred witt
and congress has undertaken to offse
this disturbance by comforting ex
traordinary powers upon the presiden
to stabilize prices. Each of the fore
going factors grows out of condition:
which have received careful attentio
of the committee. Chiefly anon
them are: That the wheat yield i
a great and important section of tn
country has this year been below til
normal; that over against this situa
ton Is the crying need among tn
whole body of the population. espe
cially the wage earners, that the risin
tide of costs shall be stayed and re
duced as rapidly as possible consis
tent with the welfare of the Pre-
Queer: that the government Is at tt
present time engaged in the great tas
of reducing and stabilizing costs
other staple conditions: that the whes
of the world is abundant for it's need
even disregarding the stores in Ru'
STA: but because of lack of shippir
and war conditions, the burden of SUI
plying wheat to the allies and to ne,
trail nations rests for the time beil
upon the United States and Canada
Many Matters considsred.
"Your committee also has consider
the fact that the government price t
the 1917 wheat crop is, in effect,
continuing guaranty until the mir
mum price guaranteed by congress I
the crop of 1918 goes into effect Ju
1. 1918. 1t has considered the rel
ton Of the 1915 minimum price gua