The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-08-12
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT
ON HIGH COST OF LIVING
Places Several Proposals Before Con-
gress.-He Expresses Opinion
That Results Can Not Be
Expected Now.

Washington, Aug.-President Will
son laid several specific proposals be-
fore congress today for checking the
high cost of living, but at the same
time declared permanent results
could not be expected until peace
times bases were fully restored by
ratification of the peace treaty.
High prices, the president teld con-
gress, were not justified by shortage
of supply, either pre- ent or prospect
i've, but were created in many cases
<:artificially and deliberately by
'svieious practices" Retailers, ne
said, were responsible in large part
for extortionaue prices.
Strikes, the president warned the
labor world, would only make matters
worse and :31ose whn sought to en-
ploy threats or coercion were only
preparing their own destruction. :"
Leaders of organized labor, the pres
ident said, he was sure would present
\ ly yield to second sober thought.
illegal" and criminal were the
words the president used in charac-
terizing the methods by which some
present day prices have been brought
about.
Present laws, he said, would be en-
ergetically employed to the limit to
force out food boards, and meet the
situation so far as possible, but to
supplement the existing statutes he
specifically urged the following.
Use of Licenses.
Licensing of all corporations en-
gagged in interstate commerce, with
specific regulations designed to Sc
cure competitive selling and prevent
s'unconscionable profits" in the meth
cd of marketing.
Extension of the food control act
to peace times and the applications
Of its provisions against boarding to
fuel, clothing and other necessities
Of life as well as food.
A penalty in the food control act
for profiteering.
A lew regulating cold storage, linn
iting the time during which goods
may be held; prescribing a method of
disposing of them if held beyond the
permitted period and requiring that
when released goods bear the date Of
storage.
Laws requiring that goods released
from storage for interstate commerce
bear the selling prices at which they
went into storage and requiring that
all goods destined for interstate COM
merce bear the prices at which they
aeft the hands of the producer.
Enactment of the pending bill for
The control of security issues.
Additional appropriations for gov
ernment agencies which can supply
the public with full information as to
prices which retailers buy.
Early ratification of the peace
treaty so that the "free processes of
supply and demand" can operate.
Steps to be Taken.
Immediate steps by executive agen-
cies of the government promised by
the president included:
The limiting and controlling Of
wheat shipments and credits to facili-
tate the purchase Of wheat in such
way as not to raise but rather to
lower the price of flour at home.
Sale Of surplus stock of goods and
clothing in the hands of the govern
ment. The forced withdrawal from
storage and sale of surplus stocks IN
private hands.
General recommendations include:
I; Increase of production.
Careful buying by housewives.
< Fair dealing with the people on the
part of producers, middlemen and
merchants.
That there be no threats and undue
insistence upon the interest of single
classes.
Correction of "many things" in the
relation between capital and labor in
respect to wages and conditions of
labor.
In concluding the president made
plea for deliberate, intelligent action,
reminding congress that an unbal-
anced world was looking to the
United States.
awe and we almost alone" he said,
ssnow hold the world steady. Upon
our steadfastness and self posses
sion depend the affairs of nations