New Britain herald., 1919-08-09

increased. For example. the stock i of canned tomatoes had increased ; 102 per cent. and yet the price had declined only 25 cents per dozen cans. In some cases there had been the usual result of an increase of price following a decrease of sup ply, but in almost every instance the increase or price had been dispro- portlonate to the increase in stock.
 Careful Study Made.
 The attorney general has been making careful study of the situa- tlon as whole and of the laws that can be applied to better it, and is 1 convinced that, under the stimulation and emptation of exceptional circum- stances, combinations of producers and combinations of traders have been formed for the control of sup , plles ana ot prices which are clearly in restraint of trade, and against these prosecutions will be promptly instituted and actively pushed which will in all likelihood have a prom pt corrective effect There is reason to believe that the prices of leather, of
 coal, of lumber, and of textiles have been materially affected by forms of concert and cooperation among the producers and marketers of these and other universally necessary commodi- ties which it will be possible to re- dress. No watchful energetic eff fort will be spared to accomplish this necessary result. I trust that there will not be many cases in which prosecution will be necessary Public action will no doubt cause many who have perhaps unWittingly adopted il- legal methods to abandon them promptly and of their own motion. And publicity can accomplish a great deal. The purchaser can often take care of himself if he knows the facts and influences he is dealing 1 with; and purchasers are not disin- clined to do anything, either singly or collectively, that may be neces-
 sary for their self protection. The departmen of commerce, the depart ment of agriculture, the department of labor, and the federal trade com mission can do a great deal towards l supplying the public, systematically and at short intervals, with informa- tiOn regarding the actual supply of particular cOmmo odities that is in eX- istence and available, and with re- gard to supplies which are in existence
 but not available because of hoard ing, and with regard to the methods of price fixing which are being used by dealers in certain foodstuffs and other necessaries. There can be little doubt that retailers are in part sometimes in large part-responsible for exorbitant prices; and it is quite practicable for the government, through the agencies I have men, toned, to supply the public with full informatio as to the prices at which rnfo h1,,v of transportation they pay, in order that it may be known just what mar gin of profit they are demanding. Opinion and concerted action on the part of purchasers can probably do the rest.
 Up to Congress.
 That is these agencies may per form this indispensable service pro- vided the congress will supply them with the necessary funds to prose- cute their inquiries and keep their price lists up to date. Hitherto the appropriation committee of the houses have not always, I fear, seen the full value of these inquiries and the de- partm and commissions have been very much straitened for means to render this service. That adequate funds be provided by appropriation for this purpose, and provided as promptly as possible, is one of the means of greatly ameliorating the present distressing conditions of live lihood that I have come to urge, in this attempt to concert with you the best ways to serve the country in this emergency It is one of the ab- solutely necessary means, underlying many others, and can be supplied at once.
 "There are many other ways Ex- isting law is inadequate. There are many perfectly legitimate methods by which the government can exercise restraint and guidance.
 Provisions Against Hoarding.
 Let me urge, in the first place,
 that the present food control act
 should be extended both as to the pe-
 riod of time during which it shall ap-
 ply. It's provisions against hoarding
 should be made to apply not only to
 food but also to foodstuffs, to fuel, to
 clothing and to many other commOdi-
 ties which are indisputably necessaries
 of life. As it stands now it is limited
 in operation to the period of the war and becomes imperative upon the for
 nal proclamation of peace. But 1 should judge that it was clearly with Tn Cne cOISllIuIlOndl DO" tI ol llS ColI- gress to make similar permanent pro-
 visions and regulations with regard to all goods destined for interstate com merce and to exclude them frominter state shipment if the requirements of the law are not compiled with. Some
 such regulation is imperatively neces- sary. The abuses that have grown up
 in the manipulation of prices by the withholding of foodstuffs and othAr l necessaries of life cannot otherwise be effectively prevented. There can be no doubt either of the necessity or the legitimacy of such measures. May l