Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-04
TUT ARMY Surplus AND Y. c. oF |.


have come home with especial force
to the sdministra tion since the rail-
road men threatened TO strike for
higher pay and suggested that profit
eering might bring soviets. Previous
TO that Mr.. Baker had been quoted as
holding up the sale OF the surplus food
in protection of interests that might be
embarrassed by the sale. The shift oil
policy and the immediate offering OF
the food stuffs on a vide open retail
market Indicate hasty change OF poll
cy. The cause OF the hasty change
seems 20 be obvious.
II there are those who expect the
offering Of the surplus food 10 cure
condition they may prepare for disap'
pOintmen, Ii will help some but this
food at very few meals and lick its
lips for more. 1t will not last long,
The sale at retail thru the postoffices
will Of course erneaYass manufacturers
and wholesalers and retailers for
time but it will have no fundamental
effect on world conditions.
Governors now promise immediate
inquiry and action on profiteering and
the n. c. of l. County attorneys are TO
meet and plan programs. 1t is all
very encouraging but it is little hard
to foresee what they will be able to do
from a legal standpoint.
Outside OF price fixing by admins
trative authority just how are we TO
60 about reducing living costs per-
manentiy while We are all bidding for
the best cuts Of beef and managing to
pay the butcher?
without doubt something must be
done beyond boosting prices and at
tempting to balance the boost by wage
! demands. 1t is peculiar and puzzling
| situation. AS may be seen in the ada
| cent column on this page business sta
tistics are on the face Of them most
| satisfactory; crops are good, live stock
seems 10 be abundant il We are to
Judge by the stock yards figures; food
stuffs are apparently as plentiful as
in any years behind us-yetswe are
assured by official authority that the
food question and the prices Of food
are actually alarming and forecast Sc
rious outbreak of one kind and another
because the price Of food is soaring be-
yond the reach of persons Of average
means.
The cost Of living has become very
serious question in America, prob
ieb in a land of plenty. six months aft
, er the armistice which was the pledge
of peace. The advances and recess
sions of foodstuffs are given in the
bulletin from the department Of labor
OF the United States and belong with
the discussion of the subject which is
most vital at present.
The price of food for the United
States shows An increase Of per cent
for April, 1919. as compared with
March. 1919. Twenty-six of the forty
one articles were higher in April thai
they were in March. The greatest III
: crease. y per cent, is shown in cab
! bage; onions increased in April. Is pei
cent; pork chops, potatoes and butter
Z per cent each; lard and flour 6 pc
cent each. Other articles show in
creases ranging from less than five
tenths of I per cent in the price {
salmon and l per cent each for ole
onargarine and crisco. to per cen
for sirloin steak. lamb. hens an
prunes. Bread, rice, peas and suga
show no change in price. The article
| which decreased were as follows: Nav
. beans and tomatoes, per cent each
fresh milk, evaporated milk and bake
beans, per cent each; nut margarine
corn flakes, canned corn. tea and raj
sins. i per cent each. and cream q
wheat less than five tenths OF pc
cent.
In April, 1919, the cost Of all article
- of food combined was Is per cent mo-
=, than in April, 1918. Onions were !
II per cent higher than a year ago. 9th
er articles showing an increase a
butter and potatoes. Al per cen
prunes, 80 per cent; coffee. g p'
cent; cheese, 20 per cent. and sugi
and eggs. Is per cent each. Durir
this year period navy beans deere
= 80 per cent and corn meal IS per cen