Cleveland County herald., 1919-08-14

gross, 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 to com prehend the whole of the scene amidst which we act There is no ground for some of the fearful forecasts l hear ut tered about me but the condition of the world is unquestionably very grave and We should face it eomprehendingly The situation of our own country is eXcep- tionately fortunate We of all peoples can afford to keep our heads and to de- termiue upon mo0erate and sensible courses of action which will 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 a greater supply of foodstuffs in this coun- try on June 1 of this year than at the same date last year. In the combined to- tai of a number of the most important foods in dry and cold storage the excess is quite 19 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 a year ago. The stock of frozen fowls had increased more than 29S per cent and yet the prices had risen also from 941a cents per pound to 37R cents The supply of creamery butter had increased 129 per cent and the price from 41 to 53 cents per pound The supply of salt beef had been augmented per cent and the price had gene up from $34 a barrel to $36 a barrel Canned corn had increased in stock near ly 92 per cent and had remained sub stantially the same in price.
 Few Price Drops Not Enough.
 In few foodstuffs the prices had de- clned, but in nothing like the proportion in which the supply had increased. For example, the stock of canned tomatoes had increased 102 per cent, and yet the price had declined only % cents per dozen cans in some cases there had been the usual result of an increase of price following a decrease of supply but in almost every instance the increase of price had been disproportionate to the decrease in stock.
 Law Department Active.
 The attorney general has been making a careful study of the situation as a 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 SUD- plies and of prices which ere clearly in restraint of trade, and against these pros cautions 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 it will be possible to redress. No watchful or energetic effort will be spared to accomplish this necessary re- suit. 1 trust that there will not be many eases 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 great deal. The purchaser can often take care of himself if he knows the facts and in- fiuences he is dealing with, and purchas- CTS are not disinclined to do anything, ei- ther 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 great deal toward supplying the public systematically and at short intervals, with informa- tion regarding 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 fix 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 CTS are in part-sometimes in large part-responsibl for exorbitant prices: and it is quite practicable for the gov ernment through the agencies I 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 it 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 dud keep lHeH pTICe UStS up to date. | Hitherto the appropriation committees of | the house have not always, I 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 I come to urge, | in this attempt to concert with you the | best ways to serve the country in this l emergency.
 It 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 fectly legitimate methods by which the government can exercise restraint and guidance
 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 1t shall apply.
 It's provision against hoarding 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-