The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-08-09
Wilson's Message
Brands High Prices
AS Criminal

WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-Presi-
dent Wilson laid several specific pro-
posals before congress today for
checking the high cost of living, but
at the same time declared permanent
results could not be expected until
peace time basis were fully restored
by ratification of the peace treaty.
High prices, the President told con-
gress, were not justified by shortage
of supply either present or prospec-
tive, but were created in many cases
"artificially and deliberately" by "vic-
ious practices" Retailers, he said,
were responsible in large part for ex-
tortionate prices.
Strikes, the President. warned the
labor world, would only make matters
worse and those who sought to en-
ploy threats or ciercion were only
preparing their own destruction"
Leaders of organized labor, the Pres
ident said he was sure, would present
ly yield to sober thought.
Illegal and criminal were the
words the President used in charac-
terizing the methods by which some
present day prices have been brought
about.
Present laws, he said, would be en-
ergetically employed to the limit to
force our food boards and meet the
situation so far as possible, but to
supplement the existing statutes he
specifically urged the following:
New Legislation Asked.
Licensing of all corporations en-
gagged in interstate commerce, with
specific regulations designed to Sc
cure competitive selling and prevent
"unconscionable profits, in the meth
ods of marketing.
Extension of the food control act
to peace times and the application of
its provisions against boarding of fuel
clothing and other necessities of life
as well as food.
A penalty in the food control act
for profiteering.
A law regulating cold storage, lin
iting the time during which goods
amy be held, prescribing method of
disposing of them if held beyond the
permitted period and requiring that
when released goods bear the date of
storage.
Laws requiring that goods released
from storage for interstate commerce
bear the selling prices at which they
went into storage and requiring that
all goods destined for interstate COM
merce bear the price at which they
left the hands of the producer.
Enactment of the pending bill for
the control of security issues.
Additional appropriations for gov
ernment agencies which can supply
the public with full information as
to prices at which retailers buy.
Early ratification of the peace
treaty so that the "free process of
supply and demand" can operate.
Relief Steps Taken.
Immediate steps by executive agen-
cies of the government promised by
the President included:
The limiting and controlling of
wheat shipments and credits to facil-
itate the purchase of wheat in such
a way as not to raise, but rather to
lower the price of flour at home.
Sale of surplus stocks of food and
clothing in the hands of the govern
ment.
The forced withdrawal from stor-
age and sale of surplus stocks in pri-
vate hands.
General recommendation includ-
ed:
Increase of production.
Careful buying by housewives.
Fair dealing with the people on the
part of the producer, the middleman
and merchants.
That there be no threats or insist
ence upon the interests of a single
class.
Correction of "many things" in the
relation of capital and labor in re-
spect to wages and conditions of la
Dor.
In concluding the President made
a plea for deliberate, intelligent ac-
tion. reminding conOress that an IN