The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-08-04
GR0NNA DENIES WHEAT
COST IS INFLATED"
"Wheat Is Cheapest Article
of Food Available"
He Says.
PREDICTS BIG SHORTAGE
Other Senators Attack High
Cost Problems-Prom-
ise Help.


Washington, Aug. I've
hope to devise some way to re-
duce the high cost of living and
help the American people get
food at lower prices" Senator
Gronna, of North Dakota, chair
man of the senate agricultural
committee, stated in the senate
this afternoon in announcing
that the committee would hold
special meeting tomorrow to
consider existing economic con-
ditions in this country.
Gronna denied that the gov
ernment-fxed prices of wheat
had anything to do with the high
cost of living, after Senator
Pittman, of Nevada, read an ed
itorial from New York news
paper to the effect that IL had.
Wheat Is the cheapest article
of food available for the Ameri-
can people today" Gronna de-
clared to congress.
Senator Gronna said that wheat
,,o -. ,atIino ~ tarr,inoI m rIr ata NJ 81
a bushel.
Instead of having a crop OF 1850.
600. 900 bushels in this harvest, We
will have about 850.000,000 bushels"
he said, land there will be a shortage
of wheat throughout the world. do
not know what Is the present proper
ton between the cost OF wheat and
-four. but during the Hoover admin
istration the gross profits in -four
were enormous"
Senator Nelson called attention to
the fact that the Canadian govern
ment had taken over Canada's wheat
crop and none OF 1t would come into
the American market. THE specula-
tive prices in wheat In the Minneap-
oils market Is due. understand, to
| the fact taht this years crops. both
| in the spring and in the recent har-
vest, are poor In quality, and the mill
lers are reaching out after what re-
mains OF last years crop. l can't ap-
! prove entirely Of the acts of the mill
lers. and think some of their in
creases unjustifable. The control by
the government of the wheat price is
of no value in reducing costs"
Senator Smith, Of South Carolina,
made an attack on the cost of high
living" and what he called a pre-
vailing high cost in living.
"It Is the duty of this country, now
that the war Is over" he said, ITO
settle for itself some of these evils,
and not be appealing to congress for
panaceas. 1t Is a commentary on the
big men OF all communities that there
should be these repeated demands
for artificial laws to regulate any
and all things. Trade must seek its
level ultimately. and will do so de-
spite the prevailing high cost.
II have been hoping to near from
the special laws. We will be getting
them from various sections.
Cost Of High Living.
TT Is not all the high cost of liv-
ing" he continued. Part of II Is the
cost of high living. have counted
the automobiles that pass me on the
streets, and gasoline has mounted in
cost together with the general up
keep of the machines. l have seen
the crowds that fill the theatres and
moving picture shows"
Cannot the senator include the
orgy Of extravagant expenditures by
the government" asked Senator Nc
Cormick, of Illinois.
"Of course. that is true for all
times" said Senator Smith, but the
American people have the power In
their hands to adjust many of these
matters among themselves or within
the states. We have antitrust laws.
why not apply them instead Of ask
ing supplemental lawsT
Wheat Is selling in Kansas for as
low as $1.13 per bushel." said Gronna.
What becomes of this cheap wheat?
II is not thrown on the market at
low prices. This Is an important
question to the consumer and the de-
partment OF agriculture is making no
effort to solve this question"
New York Takes Steps.
Albany, N. Y. Aug. Anew York
states drive to lower the high cost
OF living will take shape at con-
ference called by Gov. Smith for
Wednesday. with the mayors of va
rious cities. at which time n plan
will be devised to put government
owned foodstuffs at Schnectady into
the hands of the public at reduced
prices.