New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-09-03
Commission To Be Named
to Report ON Increased
Cost of Farm Labor
Proclamation Gives
Hint of Peace i'm 1920
President Says Government
Stakes $5OO,OOO,0OO in
Making Guarantee

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2-This years
government wheat price was continued
in effect for the 1919 crop by President
Wilson to-day in proclamation fixing
$40 as the minimum price at primary
markets. Winter wheat will be sold at
this price, but the President accom-
panied his proclamation with a state
ment giving notice that before the har-
vest of next spring he will appoint a
commission to report on increased cost
of farm labor and supplies to guide him
in determining whether there shall be
an advance in price for the spring crop.
Such an advance, if given, the Presi-
dent said, will apply only to producers
who by that time have marketed their
1913 production.
Give Peace Hint
The possibility of peace before the
middle of 1920 was touched upon in the
Presidents statement in connection
with the risk that by guaranteeing
wheat prices the government might
lose as much as half a billion dollars
if Europe should find it's supplies avail
able from the Southern Hemisphere.
The proclamation fixes as reasonable
guaranteed prices for No. l Northern
spring wheat and it's equivalents at the
principal primary markets the follow
ing:
New York, $2.39A; Philadelphia,
$3.50; Baltimore and Newport News,
s2.3SM; Duluth s2.22h; Minneapolis,
s2.217z; Chicago. s2,26; St. Louis,
1924; Kansas City and Omaha, $2.1S;
New Orleans and Galveston, $22S;
Tacoma, Seattle, Portland. Astoria, San
francisco and Los Angeles, 1920; Salt
Lake City. Great Falls. Focatello and
Spokane, 81.
The Presidents memorandum SAYS:
ain issuing to-day the govern
ment's guarantee of the same price
for the 1919 wheat crop that was
guaranteed for the 1913 crop, | wish
1t to be understood that in the spring
OF 1919 | will appoint disinterested
commission who will secure for me
the facts by that time disclosed as
to the increased cost of farm labor
and supplies, using the three year
pre-war average prices of wheat, of
labor and of supply costs as basis,
and that from this information |
shall determine whether there should
be an increase in price above the
present level, and, if SO. what advance
in order to maintain for the farmer
a good return. Should it then ap-
pear that an increase is deserved
over the present guarantee, however,
it will be applied only to those who
have by next harvest already mar
kcted their 1918 wheat.
ut is the desire and intention of
all departments of the Adminstra-
ton to give to the wheat grower
fair and stimulative return in order
that the present acreage in wheat
may be maintained.
II find a great conflict Of opinion
among various sections of the coun-
try as to the price that should be
named as a minimum guarantee. 1t
must be obvious to all, however, that
the factors which will make for in
creased Or decreased cost of pro-
duction of next years harvest can
not be determined until the near APP
proach to the harvest.
"In giving a guaranteed price for
wheat one year in advance (the only
industry guaranteed by the govern
mert), there is involved consider
able national risk. If there should be
peace or increased shipping available
before the middle of 1920 Europe