The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-08-15

etude OF mind and confidence Of pur-
pose depends. While there IL 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 now
ers associated against Germany. it is
'oie 70 look for permanent relief
Immediate Relief Measuras.
BY way Of immediate relief. surplus
STOCKS OF both food and clothing in the
nsnds OF the government will be sold and
OF course sold at prices at which there
u no pront. And BY way Of a more Der.
manent correction Of prices surplus
STOCKS IN private hands will he drawn out
OF storage and put upon the market. For.
tunately under the terms of the food.con.
.ro' act the boarding Of foodstuffs can
De checked and prevented. and they will
oe. with the greatest energy. FoodstufYs
can oe drawn out Of storage and sold nv
iesal action which the department ~
justice will institute wherever NECESSARY.
out as soon as the situation il systema Il.
caMy oeait with 1t Is not likely that the
courts will often have to be resorfed ="
Much OF the accommodating OF stocka ha.
no doubt been due to the sort of specu-
iatfon which always results from uncer
tainty. N"'e
Would Have Prices Plainly Marked.
would also recommend that It he
required thai all goods destined for in
terstate commerce should in every case
where their form or package makes II
possible be plainly marked with the
price at which they left the hands Of
the producer. Such reinforcement
would bear a close analogy n certain
provisions Of the pure food act, by which
- required that certain detailed in
formation be given on the labels of
packages OF foods and drugs
ana IL does not seem to me that we
could confne ourselves to detailed
measures OF this kind. il it IL indeed
our purpose TO assume national control
" the processes of distribution.
take 1t for granted that that - mr.
purpose and our duty. Nothing less
VIII suffice. We need not hesitate to
handle national question in a ma.
uonal way. We should go beyond the
measures l have suggested. We should
formulate law requiring federal
license OF all corporations engaged in
interstate commerce and embOdyinE in
the license. or in the conditions under
winch 1t is I" be issued. specific resu-
!atlons designed to secure competitive
selling and prevent unconscionable
prohts in the method Of marketing.
Law Would Do Much.
Such law would afford A welcome on-
portunity to effect other much-needed re-
forms In the business OF interstate shin
nent ana IN the methods of cOrporations
winch are engaged in it, hut for the mo-
inent conflne my recommends tons to the
OBJECT Immediately in hand. which is tn
lower the cost of living
We are dealing. gentlemen of tho ron.
sress. need hardly say. with very critical
ana very difficult matters. We should go
forward with confidence along the road
we see but we should also seek to COM
rrehend the whole of the scene amidst
winch we act There is no ground for
some of the fearful forecasts hear ut
tered about me. but the condition Of the
world Is unquestionably very grave and
we shon!d face it comprehendtngly. The
SITUATION OF our own country is excep-
tlonately fortunate. We OF all peoples
can afford to keep our heads and to de-
terh'ihe upon moderate and sensible
courses OF action which will insure us
asa'ns' tne passions and distempers which
are working such deep unhappincss for
some of the distressed nations on the
other side Of the sea
hut We may be involved in their dis
tresses unless we help. and help with en-
ergy and intelligence
Disresard'ns the surplus stock in the
"ahus 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 number Of the most important
ioods IN dry and cold storage the excess
Is quite IL per cent. And yet prices have
risen
Law Department Active,
me attorney general has been making
tarefnl study OF the situation az 4
whole and Of the laws that can be an.
pned TO better 1t and is convinced that.
unoer the stimulation and temptation OF
iRfsbns
OF producers and combinations Of traders
nave oeen formed for the control OF sup
pi1es 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 ali likeli-
nooo have prompt corrective effect.
Ihere Ia reason to believe that tho pricea
OF leather. OF coal. OF lumber and Of tex
tlles nave been materially affected nv
forms Of concert and co-opera ton among
tue producers and marketers Of these and
other universally necessary commodities
when will be possible to redress. No
watcntul or energetic effort will be
spared to accomplish this necessary re.
suit. trust that there will not be many
cases IN which prosecution will be neces
sary. Public action will no doubt cause
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 a great deal toward
supplying the public systema ticallv
and at short intervals with informs.
ton 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 hx
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 partsOmetimes in large
part-responsible for exorbitant prices:
and 1t IL quite practica BILE for the gov
eminent through the agencies I have
mentioned. to supply the public with
full information as to the prices at
which retailers buy and as to the costs
or transportation they pay in order
that 1t may be known Just what mar
gin Of profit they are demanding. Opjn-
ion and concerted action on the part Of
purchasers can proba bly, do the rest,
Let me urge. in the first place. that
the present foodstun control act should
he extended both as to the period of time
during which it shall remain in operation