New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-13
. t.,.ndum Is Submitted
>, Business Men of
the Country
n, Profit in War,
Is Demand Made
c.r.rnment Control Is
Sought for the Entire
Public
fS>N,ial CorrcSpcnlencel

fSgNNriaa AoITtNi''4s'N44NVl
WASHINGTON, Sept IA proposal
'. ,,s government control the prices
ahv the consuming public for all
.,..;,ies Of life during the period of
=, var has been submitted to the bust
=. men OF the country in refercn-
- conducted by the Chamber Of Com
Ire Of the United States.
recommendation TO extend TO other
.,;,l,s the legislation for controlling
:, ,riees Of coal and -four was made
!, specisl committee of the organiza-
=, Of which the following Western
-, are members:
,urust II. Nogel, Milwaukee, vice
,,.ident Of Pfster & Nogel Leather
r.-,arv. chairman; Z. W. Decker.
y,psspolis. president of the North
-. National Bank; David kinley, Ur-
,,,s H., vice-president of the Univer-
:, Of Illinois; Charles Nagel, st.
r,si. and Robert J. Thorne, Chicago,
...,iS,nt Of Montgomery, Ward & Co.
fsTbe question is raised at particu-
..v interesting time in view of the
.,,ber Of important questions about
--,ss which have recently developed"
ala Chamber of Commerce state
-s,, "The referendum. it is said, will
sov exactly where the principal or
,,i,s,iOns Of the country stand on the
.bject.
Price Control Recommendations
After going very thoroughly into
ii, subject the National Chamber
ere control committee has recon-
Tended that authority TO control prices
,,ould extend to all articles which have
IMPORTANCE in basic industries as well
Is in war and which enter into the
,,,esssries OF everyday life; that su-
iority control prices should be OK
ended 10 raw materials and finished
,,odre,s. that authority TO control
,-.es should extend 10 the prices the
,,bgc PAYS as well as those paid by
81 government: that authority to con-
roi prices should be administered by
mali executive board appointed by the
President. 90, :
also. that an agency working IN
harmony with the board controlling
uices should have authority to dis
trbute available supplies to those pur-
,b.sers whose needs are most directly
related 10 the public welfare, and thst
each leading industry and trade should
create a representative committee %
rerresent il in conference and TO ad-
wise with agencies that control prices
and distribution.
"The National Chamber has ALREADY
zone on record through a Referendum.
vote Of its members committing ~ 10
the principle that there should not De
p,ost interest IN war. This principle
has been reiterated several times by
the members Of the chamber since the
United States declared war.
Stable Prices Essential
"Tbe committee points out that Tor
success in business enterprise stable
rrees are essential. Every seller OIL
uoducts is q purchaser of materials.
No business can be successfully con-
c.t,ed If il cannot ascertain Its own
cs,s and price in advance. when
aere can be no reasonable certainty
bout the future course OF costs LOT
rsierials and equipment, 1t Is pointed
CT by the committee in its report that
Ney business faces unknown elements
soon as il endeavors TO determine
is scale Of operation, the goods IT Will
rake and the prices it should ask for
is products.
1T is pointed out by the committee
fiat control Of prices charged to the
soyernment, whether exercised under
gthority Of law or through voluntary
arrangement with the sellers, leaves
be situation Of private buyers, who
lave to meet their requirements out OF
diminished supply, worse than before
lhs prices to the government were
dealt with. This is the case, too, II Is
!srther pointed out, whether the posi-
ton Of industries buying for further
manufacture is considered or the sit
gaiiOn of ultimate purchasers among
the public. .
With respect to foods, feeds and
fuel, this iniquity is recognized IN
legislation which has just been enacted
he so-ealled food control act contem-
Plates a system of licensing manufact-
uters and handlers of food products
'ad the other articles affected, with
Zoe profits limited by the govern
nent 70 reasonable figure. Some
commodities-such as wheat, -four
meat. beans and potatoes govern
Rent may buy in quantities and sell at
'essonablc prices, as a means OF infu-
''iheing the general market. In order
',st the President may make measures
o. this kind effective he may, II neces-
.afy, take over and operate the facill-
YES for producing such foods or meats
Of the nniree from which coal is OBJ