The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1918-07-11
THE BLAME FOR PRoF1TEERING

warned congress that the question of
profiteering must be dealt with by
effective legislation. In his address
of Dec. 4, 1917, he said:
Recent experience has convinced
me that the congress must go fur
t to set tn limits o to prce sne The law Of
supply and demand l am sorry to
SAY, has been replaced by the Jaw of
unrestrained selfishness. While we
eral branches of industry, it still
runs impudently rampant in others.
The farmers, for example, complain
with great deal of justice that,
while the regulation Of food prices
restricts their incomes, no restraints
are placed upon the prices of most of
the things they must themselves
tain on all sides.
Congress did nothing, to meet the
situation. The senate, however, act
ed in characteristic fashion. Instead
of undertaking the suppression Of
profiteering in the public interest, it
set out Immediately to remove the
special grievances. Of the farmers by
bushel in order that the farmers
might become protiteers too, and
thus share the privileges Of the rest
of the crew that is preying off the
people.
A month ago the president again
sue, and explained that 1.-The profit
eering that cannot be got at by the
restraints of congress can be got at
by taxation The report OF the
Federal Trade Board has again fore
ed the question upon Congressional
attention, and the fact is worth re-
cording that the most vigorous crit
;n;c ce nrtn
Penroses and Shoots of the United
States senate. It is already evident
that congress will never deal effect
lively with the profiteers until the
president takes personal charge OF
the fight and forces it to successful
conclusion.
Every other government has been
compelled to deal drastically with
the profiteers and it would have been
a miracle if the American people had
escaped plumber at the hands of
men who believe that the real object
of this war is to make the world safe
for the almighty dollar. But SO far
profiteering and there are no war
profits. No action has ever been
taken to define war profits. Con-
greSS has taxed excess prOfltS,' but
according to the Congressional the
DRY excess profits are anything above
a certain rate, and have no relation
whatever to the war or to war con-
ditions. In respect to fixed salaries,
excess profits mean anything above
$4,000 year, regardless of war or
peace.
With the experience of Great Brit
ain and France to guide 1t, congress
ought to be capable of dealing in
telligently with profiteering and
with the taxation of war profits; but
left to itself, congress does nothing
except talk, investigate and NEEDLE.
married in a recent issue, of the
'Searchlight on Congress" issued
by the National Voters League:
Apparently the people have not
expected the present congress to
stand on it's own feet and find it's
own way toward solution of the
problems of the period. All that
they are asking, seemingly, is how
far congress has gone in doing what
it has been told do to.
Certainly congress can claim no
credit for the conception of war leg
islation. Almost without exception
every important measure, originated
outside of congress, in the executive
departments. The president has
done the leading. Congress has not
displayed craftsmanship except by
imitation.
Congress being what it is, there is
no hope of public protection from
the forays of the profiteers except
through strong executive leadership.
Congress will do nothing unless it is
compelled to act, and the impulse to
action must come from the president.
1t is fortunate that he clearly visu-
alze the evil and is not afraid to ap
ply the remedies.-New York World.