Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-02-21

the vessels built by the Emergency
Fleet Corporation of the United
States shipping board should, under
suitable conditions, be turned over
to private operation. We hold it is
essential that the government absorb
as a part of the cost of the war
the additional cost of construction
caused by war conditions and by the
necessity of the immediate creation
of a great merchant feet in war
times. We believe that congress
should Immediately address itself to
the problem of finding some method
by which our ship owners can OPP
crate vessels flying the American
flag in competition with those Of
other countries, without lowering
the standard of living enjoyed by
American seamen.
AS an immediate necessity to en-
able our merchants and manufac-
turers to reach foreign markets it,
fair competition between different
sections of the country and with
other countries, we urge the United
States Railroad administration to re-
establish the export and import
rates as the same existed prior to
June, 1918, thus enabling the pro-
ducers of >the country to ship
through ports that offer the most
convenient and expeditions service,
To facilitate foreign trade we fa-
vor provisions being made for the
handling of foreign acceptances by
our banking institutions.
We deprecate any change in the
established standards OF our do
nestle products which viii handi-
cap the industry i'll marketing its
products under foreign competition
Federal Regulation of Business.
During the period of the war, the
national government found j; neces-
sary to adopt a policy of regulating
concerted action in fields of pro
duction and distribution of the ma
terials necessary for the successful
prosecution of the war. These
measures were often in conflict with
the federal laws passed in time Of
peace. The requirements of the
period of readjustment demand that
certain forms of cooperation, posi-
Bile during the war. be continued and
enlarged; that the contradictions oil
our statute books be eliminated by
proper legislation and that there be
formulated definite standards of gen
eral business conduct, capitalizing
such experiences Of the war as have
proven beneficial to the public in
terest. However wiling we may
have been to invest the government
with extraordinary and pienipoten-
tiary powers to meet the exigencies
of the war, we are opposed to any
continuation and extension of them
in times of peace.
We oppose any system OF licens-
ing any private business and the
taking over by the government of
the operation of any lines of bust
ness or industry built up and car
ried on by private initiative.
We recommend measures to bring
about conversion of war risk insur-
ance into permanent form in coop
Grafton with companies organized
under existing laws or under federal
legislation enacted for that purpose.
Tn seeking to regulate the BUSH
ness of the country the government
should be corrective and helpful
not hostile and destructive. Where
wrongs exist or are suspected, the
Investigations that are necessary to
disclose and correct them should be
carried on along broad lines. We
depreciate the practice of giving out
under government sanction charges
against business organizations be-
fore they have been sustained by
proof.
Price REIMBURSEMENT.
The government Of the United
States in keeping its contract with
the farmers of the country to main
tain the price of wheat until June,
1920, should arrange through its own
Dagencies to take over the marketing
of the entire wheat crop, and should
seek by means of generous credits
extended to the nations whose food
supplies have been deprecated by
the war for the marketing of the sur
plus above home requirements.
Whether in doing so the government
shall seek to impose upon the do
nestle and foreign consumers, by
means of its control over the dis
tribution of the wheat crop and the
needs q foreign credits, the guar
anteed prices paid to the producers
of the wheat crop or shall dispose Of
the crop at loss to be charged to
the account Of the war, must be de-
termined by conditions that will
hereafter arise. AS nearly as pos
sible the crop should be SO mar
keted as-to restore the normal basis
Of supply and demand and permit
the prices of all food products TO
be determined accordingly.
In dealing with the price of other
food produced in this country over
which the government has exer-
cised measure of control during
war conditions, good faith should be
shown by the government towards
those who responded(to the govern
menfs request to increase the sup
ply.
The pivotal industries that came
to life or were enlarged at the re-
guest of the government to meet
the necessities of war should now
be protected by proper measures