The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1919-01-10
The Price Of Wheat.

Members of the House Agricultural
Committee studying the recommends
tons sent them by the Secretary of
Agriculture and Food Administrator on
the wheat situation in 1919, say they
are convinced that the Government
must provide fund of not less than
$1,000, 10000 to buy the wheat produc
id in 1919 and sell it at loss in that
year.
This situation arises from the fact
that the Government guaranteed to
pay So 26 bushel at Chicago for wheat
raised in 1919 and offered for sale not
later than June, 1920. The sudden end
ing of hostilties, however, has brought
about condition which will compel the
Government to dispose of the surplus
wheat of 1918 at less than the price
paid and the surplus in 1919 must be
sold, it is estimated, at a loss of per-
haps 81 or more a bushel.
The Government, under it's guarantee
provided for by an act of Congress and
a'proclam alton of the President, must
pay 1926 bushel for all wheat grown
| 1919 which production, it is estimated,
will exceed 1000, 900, 600 bushels. Be
cause of the surplus wheat in Australia
and Argentina, wheatis being delivered
to the European markets for $1.35 a
bushel American wheat is not sought
by England at present and the result
is declared to be that there is:a surplus
of the 1916 and 1917 crop of nearly
400, C00,000 bushels.
BY next year that surplus wheat sup
ply of the United States may be double
the present surplus, but despite this
the Government must pay the Ameri-
can farmer 1926 a bushel, Chicago
price, for all wheat offered up to June
1920 In the opinion of experts
the Uuited States, in order to dispose
of its surplus, must sell all the wheat
it buys in 1919 for loss of 81 or more
bushel, which would mean that the
| Government stands to lose nearely 81,
500, 900, 900, and therefore, the public
will be taxed SIS per capita so that the
Government can keep its word to the
American farmer and at same time dis
pose of its wheat surplus.
Government experts see no way to
solve the situation in which the Govern
ment finds itself by reason Of tn e
wheat price. There must be reduction
in the price of wheat in 1919, so that
food prices may fall to their proper
level. If the Government should seek
to sell the wheat, even in this country
for what it pays forit, the food prices
would be kept up to the ar scale.
The belief exists that the Govern
ment will sell its wheat at the figure
bv the Liverpool market, which expert:
say, in 1919 may be $l.25 bushel. L
this is done the food prices will fal
greatly, as the prices of the necessar.
articles of food are determined by thu
t prices of wheat and bread. Whea
prices largely determine the prices o
all kinds of meats.
Congress has been asked by Secretar.
: of Ae riculture Houston, acting Foo
Administrator Edgar iIickard an
; William A. Glasgow, ccr0sel for tn
Food Administration, to consider care
full the wheat problem from all angles
By June next it is estimated whea
nrices will have fallen to 81 80 bushe
; in the United States, with d consequen
: reduction in the prices of -four from ST.
to SIS. so a barrel and bread to cents ;
loaf for the average size, instead of Il