The Penn's Grove record., 1919-12-12

1890 tHN N'HS ~ S0'
If the governments campaign is to
be effective, it is necessary that the
other steps suggested should be acted
on at once.
Would Extend Food Control.
l would renew and strongly urge the
necessity of the extension of the pres
ent food control act as to the period
of time in which it shall remain in
operation. The attorney general as
submitted a bill providing for an eX-
tension of this act for a period of SIX
months. AS it now stands it is linn
tied in operation to the period of the
war and becomes imperative upon he
formal proclamation of peace. 1t is
imperative that it should be EXTENDED
at once. The department Of Justice
has built up extensive machinery for
the purpose of enforcing its provis-
ions all Of which mus be abandoned
upon the conclusion of peace uni SIS
the provisions of this ACT are extend
ed.
During this period the congress will
have an opportunity to make similar
provisions and rig latf"ns with re-
gard to all goods destined for inter-
state commerce and to exclude them
from interstate shi! ment, if the re-
quirements of the law are not COM
piled with.
Some such regulation is Imperative
ly necessary. The abuses that have
grown up in the manipulation of prices
by the Withholding of foodstuffs and
other necessar!es of life cannot other
wise be effectively prevented. There
can be no doubt of either the necessity
or the legitimacy of such measures.
Ask Funds For Publicity.
AS / pointed in my last message,
publicity a accomplish a great deal
in this campaign. The aims of the
government must he clearly brought
to the attention of the consum' ng pub
lie, civic organizations and state off
Gals, who are in a position to lend
their assistance TO Il efforts. You
have made available funds with which
TO carry on this campaign, but there
is no provision in the law authOriZ-
ing their expenditure for the purpose
of making fhe public fully Informed
about the efforts of the government.
Specific recommended ZION has been
made by the attorney general in this
regard. | would strongly urge upon
you its immediate adoption, as it con-
%stitutes one of the preliminary steps
to this campaign.
Cites N. J. Cold Storage Laws.
| also renew my recommendation
that the congress pass a law regulat-
ing cold storage as it Is regulated, for
example, by the laws Of the state Of
New Jersey. which limit the time dur
ing which goods may be kept in stor-
age, prescribe the method Of dispoSing
of them if kept beyond the permitted
period, and require that goods releas-
ed from storage shall in all cases bear
the date of their receipt.
1t would materially add to the
serviceabliity of the law, for the our
pose we now have in view, if 1t were
also prescribed that all goods releas-
ed from storage for interstate ship
ment should have plainly marked upon
each package the selling or market
price al which they went into stor-
age.
BY this means the purchaser would
always be able to learn what profits
stood between him and the producer
or the wholesale dealer.
l would also renew my recommended
ton hat all goods destined for in
terstate commerce should in every
case, where their form of package
makes it possible, be plainly marked
with the price at which they left the
hands of the producer.
We should formulate a law requir-
ing a federal license Of all corpora
lions engaged in interstate commerce
and embodying in the license, or in
the conditions under which it is to be
issued, specific regulations designed
to secure competitive selling and pre-
vent unconscionable profits in the
method of marketing.
Shipping Reforms Much Needed.
Such a law would afford a welcome
opportunity to effect other much-need
ed reforms in the business of inter
state shipment and in the methods of
corporations which are engaged in it;
but for the moment l cOnfine my re-
concentrations to the object immedi-
ately in hand, which it to lower the
cost of living.
Definite Labor Program Needed.
No one who has observed the march
of events in the last year can fail to
note the absolute need of a definite
program to bring about an improve
ment in the conditions of labor. There
can be no settled conditions leading
to increased production and a reduc-
ton in the cost of living if labor and
capital are to be antagonists instead