Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-09
VIII SON URGES TREATY RATIFICATION
AS AID IN FORCING LOWER PRICES

doubt that retailers are in part--some-
times In large part--responsible Tor
exorbitant prices; an dit Is quite prac-
ticable for the government thru the
agencies have mentioned TO supply
the public with full information as 10
the prices at which retailers buy ana
as to the costs of transportation they
pay, In order that II may be known
what margin of profit they are de-
handing. Opinion and concerted action
on the part OF purchasers can prooaoly
do the rest.
Congress Supply Funds.
THAT is. these agencies may perform
this Indispensable service provided the
congress will supply them with tne
necessary funds to prosecute their IN
oulries and keep their price lists up 10
date. Hitherto the appropriation COM
mittecs o fthe houses have not always
fear seen the full value of these IN
nuiries. and the departments and coih-
missions have been very much STRAIN
ed. for means to render this service
That adequate funds be provided ny
appropriatlon for this purpose ana
provide tIS lS'S'
one of the means of greatly anchor
ating the present distressing conditions
of livelihood that / ave come TO urse'
in this attempt to concert with you inc
hest WAYS to serve the country IN TINS
emergency. II Is one of the absolutely
necessary means, underlying many
others. and can he supplied at once.
'"rhere arc many other ways. ES-
isting laws are inadequate. There are
many perfectly legitimate methoos ny
which the government can exercise re-
straint and guidance.
Let me urge in the first place tha'
the nresont food control act should pe
extended both as to the period Of time
during which it shall remain in opera
tior and as 10 the commodities ~
which il shall apply. Its provisions
against boarding should he mace "
apply not only to g food but also W
feed stuffs. 10 foul, to clothing ana 10
MANY other commodities which are IN
disnutahlv necessaries of life
As IT stands now it is limited IN
operation to the period OF the wal
and becomes imperative upon the
formal proclamation OF peace hu.
7 should Judge that it was clearly
within the constitutional power or the
congress to make similar permanent
provisions and regulations with re-
card to all goods destined for inter-
state commerce and to exclude them
from interstate shipment If the re-
ruirements of the law are not compiled
with.
Strike Regulations Imperative.
"Some such regulation is mpera-
lively necessary. The abuses that
have grown up in the manipulation OF
prices by the withholding Of 1000
stuffs and other necessaries OF lie
can not otherwise be effectively pre-
vented. There can be no doubt OF
either the necessity or the legitimacy
of such measures.
May not call attention to the fact
also, that altho the present act pro-
hibits profiteering, the prohibition is
accompanied by no penalty. 1t Is
clearly in the public interest that
penalty should be provided which Will
be persuasive.
"To the same. end, I earnestly
recommend, in the second place. that
the congress pass law regulating
cold storage as it is regulated. for eX-
ample. by laws of the state of New
Jersey. which limit the time during
which goods may be kept in storage
prescribe the methods Of disposing OF
them if kept beyond the permitted
period and require that goods released
from storage shall in all cases pear
the date of their receipt.
at would materially add TO the
serviceabilty of the law, for the pur-
pose we now have in view. II 1t were
also prescribed that all goods released
from storage for interstate shipment
should have plainly marked upon each
package the selling or market price at
which they went into storage. by
this means the purchaser would al
ways be able to learn what profts
stood between him and the producer
or the wholesale dealer.