The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1919-08-22

capital or put her restless distracted
peoples to work until she knows exact
ly where she stands in respect to
peace. and what will do Is for her
the chief question upon which her quiz
etHde OF mind and confidence OF pur-
pose depends While there is any pos
ability that the peace terms may be
changed Or may be held long in abey-
ance. or may not be enforced because
OF divisions Of opinion among the pow
ers associated against Germany, it is
idle to look for permanent relief
Immediate Relief Measures.
BY way of immediate relief. surplus
stocks OF both food and clothing In the
hands OF the government will be sold and
OF course sold at prices at which there
IS no profit And by way of a more per-
rnanent correction OF prices surplus
stocks In private hands will be drawn out
OF storage and put upon the market For
tunateiy under the terms OF the food-con-
troll act the boarding OF foodstuffs can
be checked and prevented. and they will
De. with the greatest energy Foodstuffs
can be drawn out OF storage and sold by
legal action which the department of
justice will institute wherever necessary.
put as soon as the situation is systematic
caiiy dealt with ii is not likely that the
courts VIII often have TO be resorted to.
Much OF the accommodating OF stocks has
no doubt been due to the sort of specu-
l5sfon which always results from uncer-
tainty.
Would Have Prices Plainly Marked.
would also recommend that 1T be
required that all goods destined for in
terstate commerce should in every case
where their form or package axes it
possible be plainly marked wl1h the
price at which they left the hands of
the producer. Such requirement
would bear a close analogy 10 certain
provisions Of the pure food act, by which
IL is required that certain detailed in
for ~gaf i'm 10 rrFr~
package OF foods and drugs
And it does not seem to me that we
could confine ourselves to detailed
measures of this kind. If IL is indeed
our purpose TO assume national control
or the processes OF distribution
take il for granted that that Is our
purpose and duty Nothing less
Will suffice. We need not hesitate TO
handle national question in a ma
tional way. We should go beyond the
measures L have suggested. We should
formulate a law requiring federal
license of all corporations engaged in
interstate commerce and embodying In
the license, or in the conditions under
which IL is to be issued specific regu-
lations designed to secure competitive
selling and prevent unconscionable
profits In the method of marketing.
Law Would Do Much.
such law would afford a welcome op-
portunity to effect other much-needed re-
IN the business OF interstate ship
ment and in the methods of corporations
which are engaged in 1t; but for the mo-
ment | confine my recommendations to the
object Immediately in hand which is to
lower the cost of living.
We are dealing. gentlemen of the con-
gress need hardly say. with very critical
and very difficult matters. We should go
forward with confidence along the road
we see. but we should also seek to COM
prehend the whole OF the scene amidst
There N fnr
some OF the fearful forecasts l hear ut
tered about me. but the condition of the
world is unquestionably very grave and
we should face il comprehendingly. The
situation Of our own country is excep-
tionately fortunate We of all peoples
can AFFORD TO keep our heads and to de-
termine upon moderate and sensible
courses of action which will insure us
against the passions and dfstempers which
are working such deep unhappiness for
some of the distressed nations on the
other side of the sea
But we RAY be involved in their dis
tresses unless We help and help with en-
ergy and intelligence
Disregarding the surplus stock in the
hands of the government. there was a
greater supply OF foodstuffs in this coun-
same date last year. In the combined to-
tai OF a number of the most important
foods in dry and cold storage the excess
Is quite 10 per cent. And yet prices have
risen.
Law Department Active.
The attorney general has been making
a careful study OF the situation as a
whole and OF the laws that can be ap-
piled to better IL and is convinced that
under the stimulation and temptation Of
exceptional circumstances combinations
OF producers and combinations of traders
have been formed for the control of sup
plies and of prices which are clearly in
restraint OF trade, and against these pros
yrrflI h.
actively pushed which will in all likeli-
hood have "A prompt corrective effect
There is reason to believe that the prices
of leather. of coal. of lumber and of tex
tiles have been materially affected by
forms OF concert and cooperation among
the producers and marketers OF these and
other universally necessary commodities
which 1t will be possible to redress No
watchfui or energetic effort will be
spared to accomplish this necessary re-
suit trust that there will not be many
cases in which prosecution will be neces-
sary- Public action will no doubt cause
many who have perhaps unwittngly
adopted Illegal methods to abandon them
promptly and of their own motion
The department of commerce. the
department Of agriculture. the depart
ment of labor and the federal trade
commission can do a great deal toward
supplying the public systematically
and at short intervals. with informa-
ton regarding the actual supply of
particular commodities that is in ex-
istence and available with regard to
supplies which are in existence but rot
with regard to the mes hods OF price fix
Ing which are being used by dealers in
certain foodstuffs and other necessities
Retailers in Part to Blame.
There can be little doubt that retail
ers are in part-sometimes in large
part-responsible for exorbitant prices:
and IL is quite practicable for the gov
eminent through the agencies / have
mentioned, to supply the public with
full information as to the prices at
which retailers buy and as to the costs
OF transportation they pay in order
that 1T may be known just what mar
gin OF profit they are demanding Opin-
ion and concerted action on the part of
purchasers can probably do the rest
Let me urge in the first place that
the present foodstuff control act should
be extended both to the period of time
during which it shall remain in operation
and as to the commodities to which IL
shall apply.
Its provision against boarding should be
made to apply not only to food but also
to feed stuffs. to fuel. to clothing. and to
many other commodities which are in
disputabiy necessaries OF life. AS II
stands now 1t is limited in operation to