The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1919-08-15

THE FAYETTE FAL
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 10 COM
prehend the whole of the scene amidst
which we act There is no ground for
some of the fearful forecasts | hear ut
tered about me. but the condition OF the
world is unquestonably very grave and
We should face il comprehendingly. The
situation Of Our own country is eXcep-
tionately fortunate. We Of all peoples
can afford 10 keep our heads and to de-
termine upon moderate and sensible
courses of action which win insure us
| against the passions and distempers which
are working such deep unhappiness for
some of the distressed nations on the
other side OF the sea.
But we may 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
greater supply OF fOodstuffs in this coun-
try on June I Of this year than at the
same udNt ldht year III W
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.
The supply OF fresh eggs on hand in
June OF this year, for example, was
greater by nearly 10 per cent than the
supply on hand at the same time last
year. and yet the wholesale price OF eggs
was 40 cents a dozen, as against 30 cents
q year ago The stock of frozen fowls
mad increased more than 2sS per cent and
| yet the prices had risen also from 34A
cents per pound TO S7is cents. The supply
Of creamery butter had increased 129 per
cent and the price from Il to So cents per
| pound. The supply of salt beef had been
augmented per cent and the price had
| gene up from sA a barrel TO $50 barrel.
| Canned corn had increased in stock near
| ly 80 per cent and had remained sub
stantially the same in price.
Few Price Drops Not Enough.
| In a few foodstuffs the prices had de-
clined, but In nothing like the proportion
! in which the supply had increased. For
example, the stock of canned tomatoes
had increased 1902 per cent and yet the
price had declined only 25 cents per
dozen cans In some cases there had
been the usual result of an increase OF
| price following decrease of supply, but
in almost every instance the increase OF
price had been disproportlonate to the
decrease in stock.
Law Department Active.
| The attorney general has been making
7 careful study of the situation as
whole and of the laws that can be APP
| piled to better it 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
ecutions will be promptly instituted and
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
watchful or energetic effort will be
spared to accomplish this necessary re-
suit l 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 unwittingly
adopted Illegal methods to abandon them
promptly and Of their own motion.
Publicity Will Do Much.
And publicity can accomplish a great
deal. The purchaser can often take care
| of himself II he knows the facts and in
| fuences he is dealing with, and purchas-
ers are not disinclned TO do anything, ell
Their singly or collectively, that may be
necessary for their self-protection.
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 regardns the actual supply of
! particular commodities that is in ex-
istence and available with regard to
supplies which are in existence but not
with regard to the methods of price Ak
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 II 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 II 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.
Congress Must Supply Funds.
That is. these agencies may perform this
| indispensable service provided the con-
gress will supply them with the neces-
sary funds TO prosecute their inquiries
| and keep their price lists up to date.
| Hitherto the appropriation committees Of
| the house have not always, | fear, seen
| the full value of these Inquiries. and the
/ departments and commissions have been
very much straitened for means to rem
der this service. That adequate funds be
provided by appropriation for this pur-
pose. and provided as promptly as pos
| sible Is one of the means, of greatly
ameliorating the present distressing con-
ditions of livelihood that come to urge,
| in this attempt 10 concert with you the
best ways TO serve the country In this
| emergency.
IL Is one Of the absolutely necessary
means, underlying many others, and can
| be supplied at once.
There are many other ways. Existing
| law Is inadequate. There are many per-
| fectiy legitimate methods by which the
| government can exercise restraint and