The sun., 1919-01-20
Due in Part to Removal Of
observation-disclosures Also
May Go Lower.

he
Washington.
The Produce Exchange OF Philadel-
mia has recommended TO the local and
Federal food administrations that the
arbitrary fixing OF prices on foodstuffs
Ne 7sscinded, and reports from Boston in
dca.e that grain and provision dealers
there are In a mood to Join a move
,ert for the modification or elimination
n the Government price fixing on grains
srd provisions
Impetus to the movement to get the
country's business back TO a competitive
basis came yesterday with the announce
nert In THE Sun that the Department
Of Agriculture Is drafting a measure by
means o. which the Federal Government
may take its first step in abandoning
rs war time price fixing on foodstuffs.
This measure will call for an appropria-
.on OF $3.50, 900. which will give
rnrle Sam ample cash with which to
hey his pledge to the farmer to pay
RIM s. 2s for all the wheat he grows in
,alH soil the wheat IN the open market
ard pocket his losses.
other Prices Are Soaring.
As il is now not only is the price OF
~Aea; being kept at figure which it
could not possibly command under the
oil law Of supply and demand but the
prices ~ other products are being boosted
- heretofore unrealized heights because
~ the Fixed wheat price. And the gov
ernmeatal fixing of hog prices AZ figures
ar In excess OF natural prices are work
i'g 20 jack UP the prices of hog products
and other meats
Men in the trade backing the cam
ra.EH to get prices down say It would be
'sr better for Uncle Sam 10 get out OF
'he hole in which he was obliged % put
HIMSELF by reason OF the war and the
10 sit OF doing e'e-vthing possible 20
NJ Il than to compel the many millions
O. consumers of the country to continue
q pa the bills. Anything that contrib
YVES "a cutting down the cost of living,
the sa'. is going to add to the happi-
rAss and contentment OF the people. and
''a' means that other problems OF read
.Ist''ort and reconstruction are going to
r.. b more easily worked out.
Is expected that boards OF trade
e. Exchanges throughout the country
~ begin a once the sending OF petit
tons and communications to Senators
ed Representatives at Washington let
'UC them know Just how the people back
home are feeling about this price fixing
business
The New York Mercantile Exchange
week or ten days ago. 1t sent petit
t on to the Food Administration asking
lat certain restrictions. which hampered
'rs butter trade. be removed from fresh
tItter. News came back that the petit
ton had been granted.
During the past week quotations on
NI.ter in the wholesale market dropped
tsven cents a pound, which all hands
torsidered quite drop. Julius ID. Mahr.
resident Of the exchange, declined last
right to go on record as saying that the
decline came because the governmental al
restrictions we're removed. He did say.
however. lit was in line with the eco
ronic laws guided by the law of supply
al demand"
Mr Mahr explains that some OF the
define probably was due to the milk
strike and the shipping to this city by
farmers Of accumulations of butter which
tey manufactured from held UP milk
'fa: otherwise would have come TO New
Tork fluid milk.
Restrictions still apply to storage but
ts-. which will not be out OF the market
W. April ! or Whereabouts.
The Mercantile Exchange also ha-
asked the Food Administration TO re
rove its restrictions on fresh eggs, ant
NJ Mahr received word on Saturday
vat ta.s petition is TO receive considera
tlo'..
Nj Mahr said that II strikes hin
ere IS a general tendency Of all fooC
Supplies towards lower prices, and h
believed that lower prices would follow
= ne law Of supply and demand Is per
n.-j-i 10 work
"Bu'." he added, "it can't be done in ;
d.