The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-07-16
Surplus Army Stores

The discussion Of the city council on the pur-
chase of surplus army supplies to be sold to cit-
gems of Richmond calls atteition to the fact that
Indianapolis Chicago and other large cities al
ready have begun negotiations for the distribu-
ton of these products among their citizens on a
basis that will prove saving in money to the pur-
chasers. The city council will get in touch with
the army authorities.
The disposition Of the vast stores Of supplies
bought by the army and navy is not so simple as
It seems. The federal authorities considering
two vital aspects Of the case, which, even if they
do not concern US individually and have no direct
bearing on the desire of the city council to obtain
foodstuffs from the government in carload lots
for distribution here, of interest. The Wash
ington Post, which is in position to have first
hand knowledge of the situation, presents the d.
aemma editorially. Irrespective of the findings
of the Post the city council should obtain infor-
NATION from the war department, and if the pub
bic good will be served, make arrangements for
the distribution Of the supplies.
The high cost of living is irksome to the pub
lie, and anything that is done to bring about
reduction will be welcomed by the people. To
hold canned goods off the market much longer
seems to be unfair to the public. The army has
no use for them. They must be distributed some
lime. AS no one can tell what the future has IN
store it seems to be poor policy to hold OFT much
longer for better day more stable economic
condition. The same holds true Of canned meats.
"On the one hand, it would seem as if the
people, having paid profit for the supplies when
they were acquired, were now entitled to have
them placed on sale at reasonable prices and with
out regard to the interests of the producers,
the Post.
$50 far as the canned meats are concerned,
it appears that the problem has been to find buy
ers at any price. AS to the $500 OOO 900 worth OF
surplus canned vegetables, it is conceded that the
policy was to hold them off the market in order
to protect the producers Of course, this means
that consumers are paying higher prices than
they would pay if this enormous quantity OF can
ned goods had been dumped on the market. But
the testimony tends to show that if the goods had
been dumped the truck raisers might not have
planted for canning this season and prices might
have been still higher in the end, to say nothing
of the disocation of widely distributed industry.
aside from the question of directing sales so
that business shall not be disturbed, there is the
general question as to whether sales should be
made at cut prices with view to easing the hard
ships of consumers or whether the policy should
be to realize as much as possible for the govern
ment Either way the people pay. The question
Is whether they would prefer to pay less for
goods or more for taxes.
mo hard and fast rule can be followed. 1t
would be a mistake to ruin the machine tool in
dustry of the country by throwing years pro-
duction on the market. On the other hand, it
would be grave mistake to hold back 100000
pairs of army shoes for the best prices or for
gradual distribution with shoes at the prices now
prevailing and in sight"