Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-01
J |f0NFkOL
ppfoved BY Presi-
Will Decide on
Prices
|UEsTED BY HOOVER
Administrator Tells Wilson
That Existing Situation Is
Intolerable


Federal control of lie American pack
int Industry Is considcfed certain
shortly. The commission approved by
Prtsidens Wilson % Initiate q national
meat policy will get down 70 business at
once 1t conprises Secretary David
Houston. and the chairman OF tho FEEDER
nj Trade Commission william J, Harris.
chairman Of The United States Tarin
board r. w Tausslng Secretary OF
Labor william b Wilson and Federal
Food Administrator Herbert 9 Hoover
Tho commission. named by the Presi-
dent al the request Of Mr Hoover, VIII
formulate a policy which viii give the
Government control Of meat distribution
ana prices In his letter 70 the Presi-
dent Hoover declared that the existing
situation is iptoierahle. lt brings about
criticism from The consumer and the
producer and aids proiiteering, The
afab which Is suggested would permit
a price-hxlnR policy which would be
along the Hines now followed in the steel
and copper Industries
However. officials who are in close
touch with the situation insisted today
that the present pricc-hSlng plan cannot
be followed IN the meat industry, They
say that AZ least partial Government
control will be necessary. And some
Of the men who are investigating the
subject are believed here TO already ne
nearly convinced that only Government
control viii solve this problem
n was believed here that a report on
the subject would be ready for presen-
tation to the President by the end OF
this month The commission Is to get
20 work on the Inquiry Immediately and
Il viii be speeded up in every way.
Theories Discarded
In his letter Mr.. Hoover says that
IN spite Of the wei founded objection
TO any theory Of price-ixing. the Amer
lean situation had reached point
where Tho volume OF purchases con.
trolled by a single agency amounted tc
price-lxing and AL theories go by the
board
Abandonment Of direction Of war pur-
chases and conservation measures be-
cause they affect prices continuance OF
the present national policy and stabiliza-
ton OF prices by the Government are
the alternatives that must be faced. ac-
cordlng to Mr.. Hoover
The first. he says. would be tire.
mendous relief to the Government. but
would lead to a transfer OK price in
fuence 20 uncontrolled agencies with a
corresponding harmful effect on the cost
OF living.
Crltieizes System
That Mr. Hoover does not favor the
second alternative-the system under
which he Is operating at present--ii
made plain in the Following quotation
from his communication TO the Presi.
dent
This ;the present policy Of the food
ndn1htistration) Is an almost intolerablt
nltuatlon for any Government official II
criticism from both producer and con
srmer and with the growing volume ol
\ purchases this criticism must increase
j II pernftstof no constructive policy il
"A production1
The final course Mr. Hoover said. wa.
the most important in its far-reachni
effect that Il may have on production
and IN its dangers II is certain. HI
stated TO assure the producer of fan
returns bur may through either a vol
uniarv agreement with the packers a,
b prices or through Government con
trol. Involve the Government in som,
financial responsibility In speculative
business.
The question TO be determined, Thu
letter continued. IS which OF the alterna
tives win be 1he maximum contribution
TO winning the war, and .his problem
iK the one to be placed before the com
mission on account OF Mr.. Hoovers ex
pressed belief that this SHOULD not bt
deferinined az the opinion Of any singl,
individual. no matter how sincere ant
.eorneat the application Of intelligence
might be