The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-08-15

| capital or put her restless. distracted
| peoples to work until she knows exact
| ly where she stands in respect to
| peace; and what we will do is for her
| the chief question upon which her qui-
| 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, 1t 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 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 foodstufs 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:
put 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.
1 would also recommend that 1t be
required that all goods destined for in
terstate commerce should in every case
where their form package makes it
possible be plainly marked with the
price at which they left the hands of
the producer. Such requirement
would bear close analogy to certain
provisions of the pure food act by which
1t is required that certain detailed in
formation be given on the labels of
packages of foods and drugs.
And 1t does not seem to me that we
could confine ourselves to detailed
measures of this kind. if it is indeed
our purpose to assume national control
of the processes of distribution
take 1T for granted that that is our
purpose and our duty. Nothing less
will suffice We need not hesitate to
handle national question in a ma
t1onal way We should go beyond the
measures 1 have suggested We should
formulate a law requiring a federal
license of all corporations engaged in
interstate commerce and embodylng in
the license, or in the conditions under
which it is to be issued, specific reeu-
lations designed to secure competitive
selling and prevent uncomfortable
profits in the method of marketing
Law Would Do Much.
Such law would afford a welcome op-
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 l contne 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 1 hear ut
tered about me. but the condition of the
world is unquestionably very grave and
we should face it comprehendingly. The
SITUATION or 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
Disregarding the surplus stock in the
| hands of the government there was a
| greater supply of foodstuffs in this coun-
try on June l 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 19 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 ap-
piled to better it and is convinced that
under the stimulation and temptation of
exceptional circumstances, combinations
of DrOOucarS Of
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 likeli-
hood have a 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 cooperation among
the producers and marketers of these and
other universally necessary commodities
winch 1t Will be possible to redress. No
watchful or energetic effort win be
spared to accomplish this necessary re-
suit l trust that there will not be many
cases in which prosecution will be neces-
sary Public action will 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-
tion 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
part-responsible for exorbitant prices;
and it is quite practicable for the gov
ernment through the agencies l have
mentioned to supply the public with
| full Information to the prices at
which retailers buy and as to the costs
| of transportation they pay in order
| that 1t 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