New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-30
Business Calmly
Awaits Crisis OF
Next Six Months
Prices of Commodities Must
Go Down in Coming Read
jusimcnt, Say Investiga-
tors, Reviewing Situation

Washington bureau
WASHINGTON, Dec. 90. -"Calmness
and chcerfuness are the dominant
factors in the attitude of the Amer
can business world to-day, despite the
uncertainties of the future"
This is the gst of the report on
general business and crop conditions
just made, to the Chamber of Com
mcrce of the United States by its com
rttee on statistics and standards,
headed by A. W Douglas, Of st. Louis.
The report points out that there IS
widespread feeling that there must
be such establishments of prices as will
stadilization of prices and purchasing,
and adds:
"The general desire IS not for radical
reductions, but rather for such Gradual
declines as conditions may warrant.
Comingled with this is the knowledge
that wages and salaries have much to
do with the cost of commodities to-day,
and nothing is further from the gem
oral thought than that there should be
and purchasing power Of the many, but
rather That a reaignment Of this
nature should assume the form OF re-
adjustment in the line of such wages
and salaries as are not warranted
under the changed situation.
"There is to-day, more than ever be-
fore, the realization that few things
contribute so much to the prosperity
of the country as universal and high
purchasing power among the people
There is universal belief, however
that the prices of most commodities
are unduly and unnaturally high and
that they must therefore, be reduced
to a lower level if any progress is to
be made in the solution of the most
pressing of all problems-thc high cos;
of living"
Business is going on, the report de
clarcs, much as before the signing OF
the armistice, although in somewhat
reduced volume. The report con-
tnues:
"There has been no sudden drastic
economy, nor financial panic, nor, il
fact. any Of those untoward events
which in the past we have reckoned as
being the natural accompaniment oil
the end of a period of prosperity.
'ln fact there is widespread feel
ing that the present situation is mere
ly readuStment and realignment to
something far better in the future
when we have surmountcd the difficult
ties that lie directly ahead of us, and
thus found a firm Foundation fol
greater business, both domestic anc
/ foreign, than we have ever known in the
past.
"On the whole, however, the general
thought is most Immediately concerned
as to how we shall compass the next
six months and how we shall get safe
ly through the time between now anc
the coming harvest with as little dis
turbance to business as possible
Meanwhile buying Of all kinds is
, cautious and conservative and large ~
for immediate needs. Commitments
until they become more Immediately
pressing'
Stocks in the hands Of retailers, the
report sets forth. are generally normal
The feeling is widespread, it is de
clarcd, that goods will be easier to get
IN the future. and this, it is said. is
leading to some declines in prices.
Agricultural conditions arc pictured
generally as good. Increased sales O,
agricultural implements are taken tt
mean increased acreages. In the cottor
states the business SITUATION has beer
Influenced by the decline in cotton
prices. Dairy interests are complain
ing of the high price Of feeds Live
stock is increasing in numbers and hog.
are coming to the market in such auan
tltles that the packers are unable tt
handle them.
Manufacturing throughout the coun
Try continues good, although it is feel
ing the loss OF government contracts
Coal mining is busy and business con
ditions in iron and copper mining ar,
good. Building and construction are
still quiet, although increased actvit,
is eyedlcted with the coming of spring
when all has been said" the repor
declares, "the situation is most remark
able, even when its uncertainty is takel
into account, for its absence of depres
sion, of gloom and Of pessimism'