Sioux County pioneer., 1919-08-21
concerted the methods by which normal

pose depends. While there is any pos
apiiity that the peace terms may be
changed Or may be held long in abey-
ance. or may not be enforced because
OF divisions Of opinion among the pow
ers associated against Germany. it is
ioie 70 look Tor permanent relief.
Immediate Relief Measures,
BY way Of immediate relief surplus
stocks Of both food and clothing in the
hands Of the government win be sold and
OF course sold at prices at which there
~ no proht. And by way Of q more per-
manent correction of prices surplus
Stocks IN private hands will be drawn out
OF storage and put upon the market. For
tunately under the terms of the food-con.
troll act the boarding Of foodstufts can
Dc checked and prevented, and they will
be. with the greatest energy. Foodstuffs
can be drawn out of storage and sold by
legal action which the department Of
justice will institute wherever necessary:
out as soon as the situation is systemati.
cally dealt with 1t ID not likely that the
courts will often have to be resorted to.
Mucn 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.
would also recommend that 1t be
required that all goods destined for In
terstate commerce should in every case
where their form or package makes II
possible be plainly marked with the
price at which they left the hands Of
tne producer. Such q requirement.
would bear q close analogy to certain
provisions Of the pure food act. by which
It is required that certain detailed in
formation be given on the labels Of
packages OF foods and drugs.
Ano IL does not seem to me that we
could confine ourselves to detailed
measures of this kind, IL it is indeed
our purpose to assume national control
OF the processes Of distribution. I
take It for granted that that Is, our
purpose and our duty. Nothing less
Will sufice. We need not hesitate to
handle national question in a ma
tional way. We should go beyond the
measures have suggested. We should
formulate law requiring a FEDERAL
!ieense OF all corporations engaged in
interstate commerce and embodyinr in
the license. or in the conditions under
which 1t Is to be issued. specific regu-
lations designed to secure competitive
sel1n6 and prevent uncomfortable
profits In the method Of marketinx.
Law Would Do Much.
sucn law would afford a welcome op-
portunity to effect other much-needed re-
forms In the business Of interstate shin.
ment and In the methods Of corporations
Which are engaged In 1t; but for the mo-
ment confine my recomme ndations to the
OBJECT Immediately in hand, which IL to
lower the cost Of living.
we are dealing. gentlemen of the con-
eress. need hardly say, with very critical
and very dimcult matters. We should 10
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. Thsre is no ground for
some OF the fearful forecasts hear ut
tered about me. but the condition Of the
world is unquestionably very grave and
we, we should face 1t comprehendingly. The
tlonateiy fortunate. We of all peoples
can AFFORD to keep our heads and to de-
termine upon moderate and sensible
courses OF action which will insure US
AGAINST the passions and distempers which
ale wQgking such deep unhappiness for
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 a
greater supply Of foodstuffs in this ,coun-
Try on June of this year than 1t the
same date last year. In the combined to-
tai OF number OF the most important
FOODS In dry and cold storage the excess
Is quite 10 per cent. And yet prices have
risen. -
Law Department Active.
The attorney general has been making
q careful study of the situation as q
whole and OF the laws that can be ap-
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 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 It will be possible to redress. No
watchful or energetic effort will be
spared to accomplish this necessary re.
suit 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 unwittinely
adopted illegal methods to abandon them
promptly and Of their own motion. :.
Retailers In Part to Blame.
There can be little doubt that retail
| SA0 6A0 Au p0IS-6Oul0Ilue0. IN large
part-responsible for exorbitant prices.
and it is quite practicable for the gov.
ernment 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 1t may be known Just what mar
gin of profit they are demanding. Opin-
ion ana concerted action on the part of
purchasers can probably do the rest.
Let me urge. in the first place, that
the present foodstuff control act should
be extended both as to the period Of time
during which it shall remain in operation
and as to the commodities to which It
shall apply.
Its provision against boarding should be
made to apply not only to food but also
to feed stuffs, to fuel, to clothing. and to
many other commodities which are in
disputably necessaries Of life. As it
stands now it eis limited in operation to