The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-09
ment can exercise restraint and

ment can exercise restraint and
guidance.
Let me urge, in the first place,
that the present food control act
should be extended both as to the
period OF time during which 1t
shall remain In operation and as
to the commodities to which II
shall apply. It's provisions against
boarding should be made 10 apply
not only to food but also to feed
stuffs. to fuel, to clothing, and to
many other commodities which
are indisputably necessaries Of
life. -t
AS II stands now It is limited In
operation to the period of the war
and becomes imperative upon the
formal proclamation of peace.
But I should Judge that 1t was
clearly within the constitutional
power Of the Congress to make
similar permanent provisions and
regulations with regard to all
goods destined for interstate
commerce and to exclude them
from Interstate shipment II the
requirements Of the law are not
complied with.
Some such regulation IL i'm
peratively necessary. The abuses
that have grown UP in the manip-
ulation OF prices by the with
holding Of foodstuffs and other
necsssaries OF life cannot other
wise be effectively prevented.
There can be no doubt of either
the necessity or the legitimacy Of
such measures.
May 1 not call attention to the
fact also that although the pres
ent act prohibits profiteering. the
prohibition is accompanied by no
penalty. 1t is clearly in the pub
lie interest that penalty should
be provided which will be persua-
sive.
To the same end earnestly
recommend. in the second place,
that the Congress pass law reg
ulating cold storage as 1t is reg
ulated. for example. by the laws
of the State Of New Jersey, which
limit the time during which goods
may be kept In storage. prescribe
the method, Of disposing of them
IL kept beyond the permitted pc
riod, and require that goods re-
leased from storage shall in all
cases bear the date of their re-
ceipt.
Would Have Price Marked.
1t would materially add to the
serviceability of the law. for the
purpose we now have in view. II II
were also prescribed that all goods
released from storage for inter-
state shipments should have
plainly marked upon each pack
age the selling or market price at
which they went into storage. By
this means the purchaser would
always be able to learn what prof
its stood between him and the
producer or the wholesale dealer.
II would serve as a useful ex-
ample to the other communities
of the country, as well as greatly
relieve local distress. II the Con-
matters very fully for the District
Of Columbia, where its legislative
authority is without limit.
I would also recommend that 1t
be required that all goods des-
tined for Interstate commerce
should, in every case where their
form or package makes 1t pos
sible, be plainly marked with the
price at which they left the hands
of the producer. Such a require
ment would bear a close analogy
to certain provisions Of the Pure
Food Act by which 1t is required
that certain detailed information
be given on the labels of pack
ages of foods and drugs.
And 1t does not seem to me that
we can confine ourselves to de-
tailed measures of this kind. IL 1t
is indeed our purpose to assume
national control OF the processes
OF distribution. 1 take 1t for
granted that that Is our purpose
and our duty. Nothing less will
suffice.
We need not hesitate to handle
q national question in a national
way. We should go beyond the
measures / have suggested. We
should formulate a law requiring
a Federal license OF all corpora
tons engaged In interstate COM
merce and embodying in the
license. or in the conditions I'M
der which II Is to be issued, spe-
cific regulations designed to secure
competitive selling and prevent
unconscionable profits In the
method of marketing. Such a law
would afford a welcome opportu-
nifty to effect other much needed
reforms in the business of inter-
state shipment and in the methods
of corporations which are en-
gagged In 1t; but for the moment
confine my recommendations to
the object Immediately in hand.
which is to lower the cost of living.
Urges Capital Issues Bill.
May not add that there is a
bill pending before the Congress
which, II passed. would do much
to stop speculation and to pre-
vent the fraudulent methods OF
promotion by which our people are
annually fieeced Of many millions
of hard earned money. / refer to
the measure proposed by the
Capital Issues Committee for the
control of security issues. 1t is a
measure formulated by men who
know the actual conditions OF
business, and its adoption would
serve 4 great and benehcent pur-
pose.
We are dealing. gentlemen of
the Congress, / need hardly say,
with very critical and very diff
attlt y,nottara