New-York tribune., 1918-11-11
u. S. Industries Board Has
No Life After Peace
Dawns
Coal Will Be First
Freed of Control
Market Prices Already Fall
ing Away From Maxi
mum Federal Figures
By Theodore M. knappen

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-With the
war seemingly virtually at an end, the
question is raised: When and how will
-hc government stop fixing prices and
regulating production?
Government supervision of foods and
fuels stops with the official ending of
she war 1t is SO written in the Lever
bill, on which both the food and fuel
administrations are based.
The authority under which the War
Industries Board restricts or stimu-
lates production and fixes prices in it's
domain is of somewhat uncertain ori
gin and vague in value. 1t is based on
.he war power in general and the
cheerful content of the governed
rather than on specific statutory enact
ments.
It exists because Of the war, and
would appear to have no life beyond
the date of the proclamation Of peace,
and yet it is conceivable that Ameri-
can industry, docile and tractable for
he common good, beyond all ante
bellum conception, may continue VOL
sntarily 20 submit for d time to reg
llstion after the war power has van
shed with the war.
The price fixing committee of the
War Industries Board must be un-
scrambled from that board within six
months after the termination of the
var, by virtue OF the provisions of the
oyerman act. That would seem to
place a six months post bellum limit
on the activities of the War Industries
Board in the matter OF price fixing.
Coal To Be Relieved First
Contrary to the New York opinion,
as reflected in The Tribune's financial
page recently, authoritative opinion
here is that coal will be the first com
modify 10 be relieved from government
control.
Mar ket prices for bituminous coal
are already beginning to fall away
rom the maximum prices established
hy the fuel Illustration. If this
process should continue to 4 marked
e1tent, as is possible, in view of coal
prices before the war. government con-
rol will automatically cease, because
It's maximum price will be so high as
ot to affect the rise and fall Of prices
from natural commercial causes
1t is believed that when the CLOSING
OF navigation on the Great Lakes termi-
mates the flow of coal to the West and
Northwest, there will be a surplus of
oltumlnous coal and a marked tendency
Tor prices to break. The authority to
'ontrol will remain until peace is off
eiaily proclaimed, which, it is believed.
WIZ DC about SIX months after the be-
Sinning OF the armistice with Germany.
by that time, coal men think, the in
dustry Will be on normal basis again
and there will be no occasion to ask
Nongress for an extension of authority
escontrol prices and direct distribu-
ton
Some of the food supply experts
'alnk that the interval between the
7fmlstlce and peace will be as long
. II Will be necessary to regulate food
prlses. 1t Is remarked, of course, that
Ender the authority of law, the price
o. wheat for the 1919 crop has already
1925. g 81 'NNu Pi''o u
me Lever law provides that con-
9 ssactual obligations established before
me expiration of the six months limit
must be respected. This means that
.ae food administration, at least as
concerns the operations of its grain
ouylng corporation. will have to remain
sa the JOB until the end of the 1919
s.op marketing year, which means until
ne middle of 1920.
, "'il enaDle the government to
sonsrol sol the American wheat surplus in
~ as we'll as in 1920, for the purpose
=. ~ dealing with the food situation in
narcpe: which. it is admitted, will be
''0'' difficult until after 1920.
Food for Europe
~ vii. however, within six months
..%f the termination of the war. cease
~ nave any power to interfere with
.m ,ae lree determination of the prices Of
W. other foodstuffs by the ordinary
market operations.
The outlook is reported to be such
Sor large food surpluses in the United
i2.a'es that the European demand can
De met without excessive imitation Of
psices- If the prospect should be other
Ns'sc, Congress would likely consider
me me advisability of extending the gem
"a powers of the food administration
aa anui normal market conditions had
oeen attained. '''-N
Vn the other hand, the opinion seems
% De that tbs time between the armis.
ice and the formal conclusion of
vsace, r;s, or even six months thereafter
SaI not be long enough to resstablish
Una ,sUamai conditions in steel and other
commercial metals.