Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-08

uncertainty.
Great surpluses were accumulated
because it was impossible TO foresce
what the market would disclose and
dealers were determined to be ready
for whatever might happen, as we'll
as eager to reap the full advantage Of
rising prices.
They will now see the disadvantage
rs well ns the danger of holding off
from the new process Of distributions
More Food Than Last Year
Some very interesting and signii
cant facts with regard to stocks on
hand and the rise of prices in the
face Of abundance have been dis
closed by the inquiries of the Depart
mont Of Agriculture. the Department
of Labor md the federal trade com
mission.
They seem to Justify the statement
that in the case of many necessary
commodities effective means have been
found to prevent the normal opera
llbll bl INV Jaw VI supply anu ht-
mand
Disrpgarding the surplus stocks in
the hands Of the government. there
was Il greater supply Of foodstuffs
in this country on June I of this year
than at the same date last year. g..
In the combined total of n number
"r tho most important foods in dry
4 ,,,lJ to- thn 10
10 per cent, And vet prices have
risen.
The supply Of fresh eggs on hand
in Juno Of this year. for example.
was greater by nearly 10 per cent
than tho supply on hand at the same
time last year. and vet the whole
sale price was forty cents Dozen as
against thirty cents n year ago.
The stock Of frozen fowls had in
creased moro than 29S per cent, and
yet the price had risen also from
thirty four and Il half cents per pound
to thirty. seven and half cents.
Larger Stocks; Higher Prices
The supply of creamery butter had
increased 12o per cent and the price
from forty one to fifty three cents
per pound.
The supply Of salt beef had been
augmented 3 per cent and the price
had gone up from S34 a barrel to
S5G a barrel
Canned corn had increased in stock
nearly % per cent and had remained
substantially the same in price. In
few foodstuffs the prices had declined.
but in nothing like the proportion in
which the supply had increased.
For example. the stock of canned
tomatoes had increased 1O2 per cent
and yet tn" price had declined only
twenty FIVE cents per dozen cans.
In some cases there had been the
usual result of an increase of price
following decrease of supply, but
in almost every instance the increase
Of price had been disproportionate to
the decrease in stock
Prosecutions Promised
The attorney general has been max
ing Il careful study of the situation
rs whole and of the laws that can
be applied to better it. and is CON
WINGED that, under the stimulation
and temptation of exceptional cir
rumstanCes. combinations of produc.
ers and combinations Of traders have
been formed for the control OF the
supplies and prices. which are clear
ly in restraint of trade, and against
these prosecutions will be promptly
inSf fitnfaI NI
will in all likelihood have prompt
corrective effect.
There Is reason to believe that
the prices of leather. of coal, of lum.
ber and of textiles have been ma
terially affected by forms of concert
and co. operation among the pr0duc.
ers 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 neces
Sary result.
trust that there will not be many
cases in which prosecution will he
necessary. Public action will no doubt
cause many who have perhaps unwit =
tingly adopted illegal methods to
abandon them promptly and of their
own motion.
Publicity of Great Value
And publicity can accomplish n
great deal. The purchaser can often
take care of himself if he knows the
facts and influences he is dealing
with and purchasers are not disin-
clined to do anything. either singly
or collectively. that may be necessary
for their self protection.
The Department of Commerce, the
Department of Agriculture. the De
partment of Labor and the federal
trade commission can do great deal
toward supplying the public. system
atically and at short intervals, with
information regarding the actual sun
ply of particular commodities that is
in existence and available. with re .
gard to supplies which are in exist
ence but not available because of
boarding, and with regard to the
methods of price fixing which are be =
/ ing used by dealers in certain food
stuffs and other necessarieS.
There can be little doubt that re
tailers are in part sometimes in larg,
part responsible for exorbitant prices
and it is quite practicable for the
government, through the agencies
have mentioned, to supply the publ,
with full information as to the price,
at which retailers buy and as to thu
costs of transportation they pay. il
order that it may be known just wha
margin of profit they are demanding
Opinions and concerted action N
the part of purchasers can probabl,