The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1918-11-18
g to the Department of Labor in

ing to the Department of Labor in
deXss.
Since, the spring quarter, ending
July |, 1918, there has been a rise in
prices-the Department of Agricultur-
ture index for September showing
that farm price averages were 1888 per
cent over the 1913 basis, and the De-
partment of Labor index showing 1856
per cent or rise from the average
OF the spring quarter this year of II
per cent and q per cent respectively
TO the farmer. The wholesale price
index of the Department of Labor
shows rise from 7o per cent average
OF the spring quarter, 1918, to SO per
cent tor September, or a rise of 20 ner
cent The Food Administration whole
sale index shows an increase from
oo per cent to 100 per cent or 20 per
cent tor the same period.
In October, 1918, the Food Admin
istration retail price reports show that
the retail cost of the same quantity
OF the "a principal foodstups was 81 s.
against an average of $6.55 for the
oprlng quarters of 1918 or a rise of
about 10 per cent.
1t is obvious enough that prices
nave risen during the last three
months both to the farmer and 70 tho
wholesaler and retailer. On the other
hahd' these rising prices, have only
kept pace with the farmers prices
oihce the first OF Tuly this wear
many economic forces have caused a
situation adverse to the consumer
mere has been steady increase in
wages, a steady increase in cost of
the materials which go into food nro.
auction and manufacture, and in con.
tanners and supplies of all l;nds
mere mas been an increase of Is ner
cent In freight rates. The rents of
the country are increasing and there
iore costs of manufacturing, distribu-
tioh ana transportation are steadi1v
increasing and should inevitably affect
prices. The public should distin o,,;s h
between rise in prices and protiteer-
ing Tor with increasing prices 70 tho
iarmer-who is himself pav;no b;nho.
wages ana cost-and with higher
wages and transport prices s;,nn1u
must rise. An example of what The
may come to can be shown in tbe
'iiarter OF flour. The increased coe+
u transportation from the wheat nro.
u"cihs regions to New York citv
amounts to about forty cents Der bar
REL lhe increased cost of cotton ba oe
during the last fourteen mor+bs
amounts to thirty cents per barrel of
hour' The increase in wholesaler,
costs OF drayage, rents, etc, amounts
~ 'eh cents or a total of 80 cepts
without including the, increased cos+s
OF the miller or retailer
Such changes do not com. r,d.u
inc category of profteerng. They
are the necessary changes invo,ved
~ 'ne economic differences in the
situation. We cannot have ou+ c,1,a
and eat it." Ne
IN other words, we cannot r,;s.
wages RI iIIu,v -a,
:: . "ee'' 'aiiway rates, expand our cred
anu currency, and hope to main.
tam the same level of prices of foods
All that the Food Administration can
W Is 10 see as far as is humanity DOS
SIDE that these alterations taka Me-
without speculation and nroG+sa,;..
ana 'nat such establishments are con-
uucted IN an orderly manner Eve,
though 1t were in the power of 49,
rood Administration to repress nr;css
inc effect of maintaining the sam.
price level in the face of s,cb :,
oieaseS IN costs of manufacture trans
PortatIon and distribution would he :, )
Ultimately curtail production itself
we are In period of initiation and
we cannot avoid the results.
we have had large measure of
voluntary cooperation both from
producers, manufacturers and whole
Saiers, III suppression Of proliteering
and speculation. There are cases thar
nave required stern measures and
some millions Of dollars have been
refunded in one way or another 70
'ne pubic The number OF firms pen
allzed is proportionatciy not large
to the total firms engaged.
In the mater of voluntary control
cf retailers We have had mere diff
Guilty, but in the publication from
week to week in every town If the
country of fair prires" basod ,,oo.,