Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-08-15

peace; and what we will do is for her
the chief question upon which Aer quiz
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
ers 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-con-
troll act the boarding 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-
cally dealt with it is not likely that the
courts will often have to be resorted to-
Much of the accommodating of stocks has
no 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 it be
required that all goods destined for in
terstate commerce should in every case
where their form or package makes it
possible be plainly marked with the
price at which they left the hands of
the producer. Such a requirement
would bear close analogy to certain
provisions of the pure food act, by which
it 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 ,conf1ne 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 a ma
tional way. We should go beyond the
measures have suggested. We should
formulate a law requiring federal
license of all corporations engaged in
Interstate commerce and embodying in
the license, or in the conditions under
which it is to be issued, specific regu-
lations designed to secure competitive
selling and prevent uncoHscionabIe
profits in the method of marketing.
Law Would Do Much.
Such a law would afford welcome OPP
portunity to effect other much-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 confine my recommendations to the
object Immediately in hand, which is to
lower the cost of living
We are dealing, gentlemen of the con-
gress, 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 / hear ut
tered about me, but the condition of the
world is unquestionably very grave and
We should face it comprehendingly The
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 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 10 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 APP
piled to better it and is convinced that,
under the stimulation and temptation of
exceptional circumS tanceS, 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
ecutions will be promptly instituted and
actively pushed which will in all hkeli-
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 co-opera ton 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. I trust that there will rot be many
cases in which prosecution VIII 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.
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-
ton 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
ers are in part-sometimes in large
and it is quite practicable for the gov
eminent 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
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 it
shall apply
It's provision against boarding 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
disputably necessaries of life. AS 1t
stands now 1t is limited in operation to