The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1919-08-15

~ Wnsfe sne STANDS IN respect 70 |
peace: and What NE will DO Is for her |
the chief question upon which her Quiz
etude of mind and confidence OF pur-
pose dependa while there Is any pos
ability that the peace terms may be
changed NJ may be held long In abey-
ance. or may not bs enforced because
or divisions OF opinion among the pow
ers associated against Germany. u 10
Idle 20 look for permanent relief
Immediate Relief MeasursA
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 al prices at which there
- no proht And by way OF q more per-
manent correction Of prices surplus
stocks In private hands viii he 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 /
DE Checked and prevented, and they will |
De with the greatest energy Foodstufs
can be drawn out Of storage and sold by |
legal action which the department OF |
justice will institute wherever necessary:
nut as soon AS the situation il systemati-
oally 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-
lation which always results from uncer-
tainty.
Would Have Prices Plainly Marked.
l would also recommend that o. be
required that all goods destined for in
terstate commerce should In every case
where their form or package makes IL
possible he plainly marked with the
price at which they left the hands of
| the producer. Such requirement
would bear a close analogy to certain
provisions of the pure food act by which
| II Is required that certain detailed in
formation be given on the labels of
packages of foods and drugs
And IL does not seem to me that we
| could confine ourselves to detailed
| measures of this kind. II II is indeed
| our purpose to assume national control
| Of the processes of distribution I
take II for granted that that is our
| purpose and our duty. Nothing less
will suffice. We need not hesitate tn
handle national question in ma
tional way. We should go beyond the
measures l have suggested. We should
formulate law requiring a federal
license OF all corporations engaged in
Interstate commerce and embodying i'm
the license, or in the conditions under
which II Is to be issued specific regu-
lations designed to secure competitive
selling and prevent unconseiona BILE
profits In the method of marketing.
Law Would Do Much.
Such law would afford a welcome op-
portunity to effect other much needed re-
forms In the business of interstate ship
ment and In the methods OF corporations
which are engaged In It: 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-
sress, l need hardly say. with very critical
and very difficult matters. We should &c
. forward with confidence along the road
we see, but we should also seek to com.
, prehend the whole of the scene amidst
which we act. There Is no ground fol
some of the fearful forecasts hear ut
, tered about me. but the condition of tn.
world Is unQuestionably very grave ant
we shouid face 1t comprehendingly. TIL,
q situation OF our own country Ia excep
, | ionately fortunate We OF all peoples
can anord to keep our heads and to de
> termine upon moderate and sensible
, courses OF action which will insure u
against the passions and distempers whicl
are working such deep unhappiness 70
some of the distressed nations on tn
h other side of the sea
I But we may be involved in their dis
! tresses unless we help and help with err
y ergy and intelligence
= Dlsregarding the surplus stock in tn
: hands OF the government. there was
= greater supply Of foodstuffs in this cour
e try on June of this year than at tn
L. same date last year. In the combined t.
It tai or number Of the most importar
y foods in dry and cold storage the exces
e Is quite IS per cent And yet prices hay
d risen.
8, Law Department Active.
n The attorney general has been maxim
VA careful study of the situation as
whole and or the laws that can be al
piled to better 1t and Is convinced tina
| under the Stimula fion a nd tam Tow
10 exceptional circumstances, combinatio,
3, CT producers and combinations of trade
10 nave been formed for the control of su
10 plies and of prices which are clearly
restraint of trade, and against these pro
ID ecutions will be promptly instituted al
rs actively pushed which will In all like
e. hood have prompt corrective effet
10 There is reason to believe that the pric
Id OF leather of coal. of lumber and Of tie
Of tiles have been materially affected
A. forms of concert and co-opera ton amo,
lie the producers and marketers of these al
it other universally necessary commoditi
T. which 1t will be possible to redress
g. watchful or energetic effort will
a. spared to accomplish this necessary !
n suit. l trust that there will not be ma
of cases In which prosecution will be nee,
IT, sary. Public action will no doubt eau
o. many who have perhaps unw'ttine
nd adopted illegal methods to abandon tn,
no promptly and of their own motion.
o. The department of commerce, t
department of agriculture, the depal
ment of labor and the federal ira
a commission can do a great deal iowa
on supplying the public systematica
~ and at short intervals. with inform
nv ton regarding the actual supply
nv particular commodities that is in {
NJ istence and available with regard
rts supplies which are in existence but !
Is with regard to the methods OF price f
or ing which are being used by dealers
he certain foodstuffs and other necessiti
to Retailers In Part to Blame.
on There can be little doubt that reta
emit ers are in part--sometimes in lal
eir part-responsible for exorbitant pric
get and it is quite practicable for the z,
wn ernment through the agencies ! ha
ner mentioned, to supply the public w
am fun information as to the prices
the which retailers buy and as to the co
ust Of. transportation they pay In or
ap- that 1t may be known just what m
nve gin OF profit they are demanding Op
i"' ior and concerted action on the pa TT
purchasers can probably do the rest
az" Let me urge, in the first place, t