The Pulaskian., 1919-08-15

life and industry are to be restored
 All that we shall do in the mean time to restrain profiteering and put the fife of our people upon tolerabIe footing will be makeshist and provi- siona1 There can be no settled eondi- ttan here or elsewhere until the treaty of ,seace is out of the way and the work of Hqudating the war has be- come the chief concern of our govern ment and of the other governments of the world.
 Europe will not. cannot reeoup her capital CT put her restless. distracted peoples to work until she knows exact ly where she stands in respect to peace: and what we will do is for her the chief question upon which her qui- etude of mind and confidence of pur- pose depends While there Is any pos ability 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 CTS associated against Germany. it is idle to look for permanent relief
 Immediate Relief Measures.
 By way of immediate relief surplus stocks of both food and clothing in the hands of the government will be sold and of course sold at prices at which there is no profit. And by way of a 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-eon- trol act the hoarding of foodstuffs can be 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; but as soon as the situation is systemati- caily dealt with 1t is not likely that the courts will often have to be resorted to- Much of the accommodating of stocks has reo doubt been due to the sort of specu- lation which always results from uncer- tainty.
 Would Have Prices Plainly Marked.
 I 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 1t possible be plainly marked with the price at which they left the hands of the producer Such requirement. would bear close analogy to certain provisions of the pure food act by which 1t is required that certain detailed in- formation be given on the labels of packages of foods and drugs
 And It does not seem to me that we could eonfine ourselves to detailed measures of this kind. if it is Indeed our purpose to assume national control of the processes of distribution. take it for granted that that is our purpose and our duty. Nothing less will suffice We need not hesitate to handle a national question in na- tional way. We should go beyond the measures have suggested. We should formulate law requiring federal license of all corporations engaged in interstate commerce and embodying In the license, or in the conditions under which 1t is to be issued. specific regu- lations designed to secure competitive selling and prevent unconscionable profits in the method of marketing.
 Law Would Do Much.
 Such a law would afford a welcome op portunlty to effect other mueh-needed re- forms in the business of interstate ship ment and in the methods of corporations which are engaged in it: but for the mo- ment 1 eonfine my recommendations to the object immediately in hand, which is to lower the cost of living
 We are dealing, gentlemen of the con sress, l 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 vb7 of the scene amidst which we act. There is no ground for some of the fearful forecasts I hear ut tered about me, but the condition of the
 
 we should face it eomprehendingly. Tho situation of our own country is excep- tionately 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 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
 Dlsregarding the surplus stock in the hands of the government. there was a greater supply of foodstuffs in this coun- try on June l of this year than at 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 19 per cent. And yet prices have risen.
 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 an 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 eeuuonS 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. l 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 unwittingly adopted illegal methods to abandon them promptly and of their own motion
 Retailers in Part to Blame.
 There can be little doubt that retail CTS are in part--sometimes in large part-responsble 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 transnortatfOn they nav in orSar