Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-09

these Inquiries, and the Department.
and commissions have been very much
STATIONED for . to render e
servtce. That adequate FUNDS pc pro-
vided by appropriation for this pur-
possible. is one Of the means 5ofs great
" ameltorAtlng the present distressing
conditions Of livelihood that ! have
come to urge. in this attempt to con-
cert with you the best way to serve
the country in this emergency. 1t q
one Of the absolutely necessary means.
underlying many others, and can pc
sQppltod Ut once.
There are many other ways. Exist
Ing laws are inadequate. There many
observation-disclosures methods by which
the government exercise restraint
and guidance.
Must Extend Food Consrol Law.
Lot me urge. In the first place.
that the present food control act
should be extended both as to the per-
.iod Of time during which It shall re-
q IN operation and as to the COM
modities to which II shall apply. Its
provisions against boarding should be
made to apply not only to food, but
oio = AOVNoSuAASs u AuSlsNLOy ClOIu1I16
and to many other commodities which
are indisputably ~necessaries of life. AS
1t stands now. 1t Is limited in opera
ton to that period Of the war and
becomes imperative. upon the formal
proclamation of peace. But ] should
judge that It was clearly within the
constitutional power Of the congress
and regulations. with regard to- all
goods destined for interstate COM
merce. and to exclude them from in
terstate shipment IL the requirements
of, the law are not complied with.
Some such regulation is imperatively
necessary. The abuses that have
grown up in the manipulation Of
prices by the Withholding. of food
stuffs and other n~ecessaries Of life
cannot otherwise be effectively pre-
vented. There can be no doubt Of
either the necessity or the legitimacy
of such measures. May I not call at
tention to the fact also that, although
the present act prohibits profiteering.
the prohibition Is accompanied by no
penalty. 1t is cleaFly in the public in
terest that a penalty should be pro-
Regulate Gold Storage.
To the same end, I earnestly rec
ommend, and in the second place, that
the congress pass a law regulating cold
storage, as it Is regulated. for exam
pie. by the laws of the state Of New
Jersey, which limits the time during
prescribe the methods Of disposing Of
them IL kept beyond the permitted
period. and require that goods re-
leased from storage shall in all cases
bear the date Of their receipt. It
would materially add to the services
ability Of the law, for the purpose we.
now have in view, II 1t we're also pre-
scribed that all goods released from
storage for interstate shipment should
& he selling Or market price at
which they went into storage. By this
al the purchaser would always
be able to learn what profits stood
between him and the producer or the
wholesale dealer.
It would serve as useful example
to the other communities of this coun-
try, as we'll as greatly relieve local
distress IL the congress were to regu-
late such. a matter very, fully for the
District Of Columbia. where its legisla-
tive authority is without limit.
Price Marks on Goods.
I.would also recommend that it be
required that all goods destined for
1AICAoI0Ac COIllIllClC0 SuOuIu III every
case where their form Of package
makes 1t possible, be plainly marked
with the price at which they left the
hands Of the producer. Such a re-
quirement would bear a close analogy
to certain provisions of the pure food
act, by which it is required that Ger
tain detailed information be given on
the labels Of packages Of food and
drugs.
And it does not. seem to me that we
can confine ourselves to detailed
measures of this kind. II 1t Is indeed
our purpose to national con-
troll of the processes OF distribution.
I take it for granted that that is our
purpose and duty. Nothing less will
suffice. We need not hesitate to han
die a national question in a national
way. We should go beyond the meas
ures have suggested. We should
formulate q law requiring a federal IL
cense Of all corporations engaged in
interstate commerce and embodyine
in the license, or in the conditions
which 1t is to be issued, specific regu-
lations designed to secure competitive
selling and prevent uncomfortable
profits in the method of marketing
Such a law would afford a welcome
opportunity to effect other much need.
ed reforms in the business of inter.
state shipment and in the methods OF
corporations which are engaged in it
But for the moment 1 confine my rec.
concentrations to the object immedi.
ately In hand, which is to lower the
cost of living :
May l not add that there is a bill
now pending before congress which
II passed, would do much to stop spec.
ulation and to prevent the fraudulent
methods of promotion by which oul
people are annually fleeced of man,
millions OF hard-earned money. I re
Ter to the measure proposed by tn,
capital issues committee for the con
troll Of security issues. It is a measur,
formulated by men who know the &C
tual conditions of business and it,
adoption would serve a great and ben
eficent purpose.
Condition of World Grave.
We are dealing, gentlemen Of tn
congress. l need hardly say, with
very critical n a very difficult mat
fidence along the road we see, but W,
mould also seek to comprehend tn,
whole OF the scene amidst which W.
act. Where is no ground for some O
the fearful forecasts l hear uttere,
about me. but the condition of tn,
world Is unquestionably very gray
and we should lace It comprehend
inely. The situation of our own coun
try Is exceptionally fortunate. We q
all peoples can afford to keep GU
heads and to determine upon moder
ate and sensible courses Of actio,
which Will insure US against the pas
sionsa and distempers which are work
ing such deep unhappiness for som
OF h distressed nations on the othe
SIDE OF h sea. But We may be in
volved In their distresses unless "
help. and help with energy and. intel
ligence.