New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-03
Trade Board Still Active,
But Is Daily Relaxing
Its Hold ON Business
Food Prices Still Fixed
Control of Coal l. Contin-
ued Until Dealers Now
Stocked Up Are Relieved

Ntr Ork Tribune
iiGshin0to, Bureau
WASHINGTON, Jan. The restric
tions imposed on trade and industry
by the various sorts OF war admin
istration agencies are rapidly disap-
pearing
The War Industries Board and its
wide range of price FIXING are gone.
The War Trade Board is still on the
job, but it daily extends the freedom
of the seas as controlled by it during
the war. However, getting a permit to
export import, or not having TO get
one, and getting shipping space are
two different things.
The Shipping Board has released
very few of its requsitioned ships yet
and through the function of the Ship
ping Control Commission. which it is
now taking over IN its entirety. it still
holds curbing hand on export trade
As British shipping is being released
Wholesale American shipping masters
and foreign traders find this situation
very hard to endure
rhe food administration continues
10 regulate the foodstuffs market to
certain degree and the grip on re-
tailels is As strong as ever. but each
week secs some articles released from
control
Price Set by Law
The price OF wheat for the 1919 crop
has been established by law and proc
lamation and cannot be altered until
that crop is marketed, which viii be
al the beginning of the 1920 crop year.
! he government has virtually entered
into contract with the wheat grow
ers. guaranteeing them S226 a bushel.
Chicago basis, and it is now up to
Congress to provide the funds, should
II be necessary for the government to
buy all or part of the crop in order to
make good the guarantee.
Nobody knows what the free market
price OF wheat would be to-day or will
be next year. On it depends whether
the government will be out of pocket
large or small sum or nothing at all
in the task of making good its guar
antee
price xng that Nere s was s'a po IS bfas
that it might cost the government as
much as a billion dollars. The United
States viii undoubtedly have the larg-
est wheat acreage in its history for
NHt l'A~ crop, uut II INTERNATIONAL
trade relations are in cons derable
degree normahzed within a years time
the demand for wheat will also be very
large. The outcome will of course, be
largely governed by the crop conditions
next year IN this as we'll as in other
wheat producing countries.
Notwithstanding Beverages
The prohibition of the manufacture
OF matted and distilled liquors will, of
course. continue, in accordance with
the Presidential proclamations A de-
termined effort is now being made,
however, through the food administra-
ton, 70 secure a relaxation of the
order as il relates to alcoholic
cereal beverages. 1t IS argued that
there IS no reason whatever why manu-
facturers should not be permitted to
use IN the stocks Of materials on hand.
and little. If any, reason why they
should not now be allowed to resume
their business without any restrictions.
ln some cities, notably St. Louis and
Milwaukee, tho removal of the restric-
tons on cereal beverages that are non
intoxicating would give employment to
many thousands Of men
The fuel administration still con-
tnues KS grip on prices and still main
ta'ns the coal zones. but otherwise its
regulation o. the business of produc-
lng and distributing coal has about ter
minated As the coal prices are maxi
mum prices. however they now have
10 effect on large part of the coal
'fade as the market is tending TO
establish over prices.
Restraint in Coal Prices
In respect TO anthracite coal and
certain kinds Of bituminous the maxi
NUN prices are still restraint The
zones are beng constantly changed
ana snrted. so much so that their re-
sl'icige effect has altogether disap-
pfafeQ 70 regard TO some Of the pro
oucing districts. Probably they will be
entirely Withdrawn b. the end of the
eor' year March 81 Their principal
junction nov is TO protect the dealers
ana the markets for coal that has been
tered IN accordance with zone regula-
tons.
illinois people. for instance. must
oufh limos coal under the zone sys-
I'm 'nough they would prefer to use
Nt'ei coais for many purposes If they
1'f permitted Tree access 10 the pre-
erred coal the dealers who have
s'oeked ~ With Illinois coal. in accord
siies WITH the requirements Of the
-uel adnlnlstration. would suffer
YrleFous loss
80 tVUrlNfidUtP extent The
coal men viii be sorry to see the zone
stseem 60 because il has tended ia re-
fa si,St competition and has made =
aa, LII hxed demand for the coal from
sscn seld and has thus reduced the
irr@earas OF tae business very greatly
.s OF s,n'llar Tfeasons they viii regret
me passing Of maximum price ~s'e'
There Is tendency for q
price to be the going price AID I'D nun,
il is gone there is much e s.'au "nen
depressing decentralization - o.
especially az the laws againe. pee. pa;,ceS'
price agreements are 70 be .n pfrasa.s
strictly hereafter 'ieeo
in fact, the coal men are ahon,
agreed that the government has bcen
more successful in directing their busi'
ness than they have ever been them.
teivcs, and they are hoping that Con
gross may be persuaded 20 make Il
iegal for them - do hereafter for
Themselves some g the things they
lad 70 do during the var, but which
II soon be illegal
The reactions Of business TO govern
,ntnt control have been and are con
fsetlnp. Business men generally are
H.ad - get back their old freedom
o. action, but they freely admit that
fNrFr H1UG ii.