The Washington times., 1919-08-17
Nation Reaping Harvest Of Four
Years Of ProfitserIng,
Says CIapper.
~ SENATOR ARTHUR CLAPPER

~ SENATOR ARTHUR CLAPFEb1
Of Kansas.
This country never has made so
many miilionaires in a given period
as tn the last four years. They have
increased more rapidly shan our ma
tional wealth. We have created not
less than 10000 OF these huge for
tunes in the last ten years. most Of
them in the last four. Now we are
Feaping tie harvest Of four years Of
RrodteerinE. Food, fuel, clothing and
shoes have passed out Of the category
ef necessities and have become lux
uries.
The war that has bred thousands Of
Billicuaires and many other thou
sands Of smaller but substantial for
tunes has, at the same time, brought
advances in price to the consumer
cut OF ell proportion to the advance
in the cost OF producing. The blight
Of the pfo6teer is over the land.
Manufacturers, packers, jobbers, com
mission men and the large retailers
have passed their war taxes on to the
consumer. PROFITS are larger than
ever before
II tie prohteers keep It up, the
consumer and the laborer will 80 on
strike and we shall have hard times
with much wreckage Of business as
Q sharp corrective and a basis Of
Feadtustment by the most painful
aud expensive way, but one that has
always been effective. The consumer
will wear EUnnysackins wrapped
about his feet in winter instead Of
the shoes he cannot buy, old hats
and old clothes will do more service,
families will herd in one room in
winter to keep warm and will adopt
% a fr7r
penses that they may continue to
live.
May Become Fashionable.
This sort Of thing may even be-
come fashionable" praiseworthy, a
sign Of public spirit Let the
pFohteers beware Of that II they do
not want their gilded house Of cards
pulled down over their heads and lose
all the ill-gotten gains for which
they have tempted fate by their
oVerweeninE greed and cupidity.
They would far better be warned in
time and play the game fairly.
In a time like this, when abnormal
conditions prevail some fair and
effective system for limiting profits,
or conhscating super-profits will have
to be found-some plan that cannot
be evaded which will pay business a
legitimate reward for the service it
renders while it protects the consum-
er froH profteering and exploitation.
The problem before Congress is ad-
mittedly not an easy one, but some
steps that may be taken are obvious.
The Attorney General and the Fed
eral Trade Commission can and should
be clothed with powers that will en-
able them to promptly and effectually
prevent greedy prohteeripg in the
necessities Of life.
The Government can and should
have the same direct, close super
vision and contrI OF monopolies. like /
the packing. fuel flour, railroad and
transportation trusts. that it has over /
national banks.
Urges Prompt Action.
The Government should be able to /
Wind up and deal with a predatory. |
pira.icaI or injurious business as /
prom pity az IL does a bad bank and a /
Crooksd banker.
The Government should haye the /
power 10 put a fair limit on profits. /
and, n necessary. to take any busi-
neEs, or the branch house Of any
business vital TO the people, out Of |
unworthy hands and put il in charge /
Of better and more conscientious
business men.
We have got to establish the prin-
eiple that the public must be served
with its vitally necessary needs at a
Iive-and-let-live profit. Fair profits
ahd fair prices will encourage and
stimulate consumption, production
and employment. They will speedily
bring about normal conditions and
will re-estRblish them on a healthier
md more enduring basis than ever
before.
With these purposes clearly in mind
some further remediable steps that
may be taken appear One OF the
chief aids to flchinE unfair profits
from the people is overcapitslization.
With the Government secur ~ in con-
troll q limit may be set 10 capitaliza-
ton.
Several O. the States. notably Kan
saE. have enacted what are known -
blue shy" laws. These requir. the
IubRIisslon OF all the plans and data
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