Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-10
STUDY EXPORT TRADE
FOR H. G.. l.. SOLUTION
Government Officials Seek Remedy for Vast
Hoarding and Increase in Shipments
Since Armistice Was Signed.

foods In the various countries. Still
a third is that the federal government
shall proceed Immediately to ascer-
tain what foodstuffs and other neces-
I saries are being boarded in ware
houses for shipment to foreign coun-
tries when the prices are right" The
Attorney General has already an
nounced that the agents of the De-
partment Of Justice are under in
structions to run down all hoarders of
foodstuffs; to prosecute them and to
seize the foodstuffs themselves for
sale. Under the food control act and
pie authority to do this.
Such action by the Department of
Justice may release vast quantities
Of foodstuffs now awaiting shipment
abroad. The supplies might be con-
siderable factor in reducing prices In
this country.
The proposal to establish an embar-
go upon the shipment of goods
abroad, particularly now that peace is
here. undoubtedly would cause an up-
! roar. The producers and shippers
would be heard throughout the length
and breadth Of the land. And there
undoubtedly would be protests on the
part of the foreign nations anxious to
get supplies from the United States.
| creased production in all lines, agri-
cultural and industrial. Critics Of an
1 embargo declare that such a step
would be ruinous from the production
| standpoint. On the other hand, 1t Is
pointed out that when production
! reached point where the United
States could with safety ship out Of
by foreign nations then the embargo
| could be lifted.
Decline in Exports Seen.
A high official Of the government,
one Of those in the closest touch with
the food situation, is authority for
the statement that the export Of food
stuffs from this country will begin to
show decline this month, and that
| thereafter. Americans may hope TO
have a greater quantity of foodstuffs
distributed in their own country for
sale, because of the decrease in ex-
ports. He bases this prediction upon
the fact that the crops in Europe win
have begun to come. In and less foods
win be needed abroad. A surprisingly
large acreage has been planted in Eu-
rope he says. when thse naesnt war
fconditions are taken into considers
[ti6n, and Europe will begin to pick up
rspidly in the. matter Of taking care
Of her food supply. He figures, too,
that increased supplies are going
from the great agricultural countries
OF South America and from Australia.
This same official is OF the opinion
that another reason why the exports
( of foodstuffs from the United States
have reached the peak in June and
promise to be still higher for July is
that the allied governments are max
ing use Of the final credits which
were extended to them by the United
States. The arrangements for tho pur-
chases of large quantities Of food
stuffs were contaminated by these
governments weeks and. months ago,
and these contracts are now being
filled, he says. y,
While this government Official IL op-s
timistic regarding the export situa-
ton, others, however, do not take %
rosy q view.
Hides and Leather Exports.
An instance Of the way in which the
United States may be denuded or
necessaries il some steps are not
taken to prevent 1t may be found in
the market for hides. Hides and
leather have continued to gain. in
price. although the price of cattle on
the hoof and the wholesale prices of
meat have gone down in the last few
months. This Is explained by repre-
sentatives Of the packers, who kill
the cattle and provide a great guam
,tity of the hides, as being due to the
fact that the government last year
took vast quantities Of leather and
shoes for the Army and for the Navy,
that Russia. which has supplied in the
past many hides. has for the last three
or four years, supplied practically .
none to. the world market. The Ameri-
can market and the world market for
hides, in consequence, have been large
ly stripped of this commodity. The
supply does not meet the demand ana
for that reason the prices OF hides COM
tinue to soar. : With shoes selling az !:
$12. SIS and SIS a pair, this 10 not !,
pleasant reading. -.,.I =. -,..,.sf
It il charged in some quarters that 4
vast quantity OF leather goods and hides
is, being stored in warehouses In this
country. ready, for shipment to Europe.
and that it is being held SO as to keep
prices Of leather and shoes high and
shove them still higher. until $50 or
$25 pair Of shoes win be the order Of
the day.
The total export of leather and leather
in the month Of June as
announced by the Department Of Conn
msrce was $685. Els, Compare this
with the total exports in May. $12.sse.-
1882. The increase in the exports "a
startling. And Europe has been willing
to pay almost any price for leather
goods, it il said. But the very ship
ment of such vast quantities from this
even though the price be not
50 high. would tend to make q shortage
in this country and give the manufac-
turers and dealers q chance to demand
the exorbitant prices which they have
been demanding. and which they
to make still higher
There IL one matter to be taken into