The Raymer enterprise., 1919-08-14

gress. need hardly say. with very critical
and very difficult matters. We should 90
Forward with confidence along the road
we see. but We should also seek to COM
prehend the whole OF the scene amidst
which we act There Ii no ground for
some Of the fearful forecasts hear ut
tered about me. but the condition Of the
world Is unquestionabiy very grave and
We should face 1t comprehendingly. The
situation Of our own country Is excep-
ionately fortunate. We Of all peoples
can afford to keep our heads and to de-
termine upon moderate and sensible
courses Of action which will insure US
against the passions and distempers which
are working such deep unhappiness for
some Of the distressed nations on the
other side Of the sea.
But we may be involved In their dis
tresses unless we help, and help with en-
ergy and intelligence.
Disregarding the surplus stock In the
hands Of the government. there was .
greater supply Of foodstuffs In this coun-
try on June Of this year than At the
same date last year. In the combined to-
tai Of . number Of the most important
foods in dry and cold storage the excess
10 quite 10 per cent And yet prices have
risen.
The supply Of fresh eggs on hand in
June Of this year. for example. was
greater by nearly 10 per cent than the
supply on hand at the same time last
year. and yet the wholesale price OF eggs
was 10 cents dozen. as against 30 cents
year ago. The stock OF frozen fowls
had increased more than 2ss per cent, and
yet the prices had risen also from BAY
cents per pound to s7i1 cents. The supply
OF creamery butter had increased 129 per
cent and the price from Il to IS cents per
pound. The supply OF salt beef had been
augmented 3 per cent and the price had
gone up from "a barrel to $3S a barrel.
Canned corn Mad Increased In stock near
ly 81 per cent and had remained sub
stantially the same in price.
Few Price Drops Not Enough.
In few foodstufrs the prices had de-
clined. but In nothing like the proportion
In which the supply had increased. For
example. the stock of canned tomatoes
had increased l02 per cent. and yet the
price had declined only Is cents per
dozen cans. In some cases there had
been the usual result OF an Increase OF
/, ai,no., svar, ,n..asa ~ ,. ~
nr,cs baa hssn a,.nr"ra..,e.s a. ~
decrease In stock NSo' '''' :" '"'
Law DEPARTMENT AetIx.
The attorney general has been making
careful study OF the situation as
whole and Of the laws that can be ap-
piled to better II ana i. convinced ,hat
under the stimulatIon and temnta lion NJ
exceptional cIrcumstances Combine lion.
OF producers and combinations ~ trader.
have been formed for the control ~ sun-
plies and OF prices which are clearly in
restraint of trade. and against these nros-
ecutions will be promptly Instituted ana
actively pushed which Will In ali Iikeli-
hood have a prompt corrective effect.
There ia reason TO believe that the prices
OF leather, of coal, of lumber and of fey
tiles have been materially affected by
forms OF concert and cooperation among
the producers and marketers of these and
other universally necessary commodities
which It will be possible to redress. No
shared - sccomn esat ,,,. eno aa. viii Dc
suit trust that there will not be many
cases In which prosecution will be neces-
sary. Public action will no doubt cause
many who have perhaps unwittingly
adopted illegal methods to abandon them
promptly and Of their own motion.
p,,h,,.,.,, u,,u n. A..
W." ~ "ss"'
ana publicity can accomplish a great
oeai Inc purchaser can often take care
OF hmseir II ne knows the facts and In
nuehces ne ~ dealing with. and purchase
eIs are NOT oisinciined TO DO anything. ell
necessary for their self.protection. -
The department Of commerce, the
department OF agriculture, the DEPART
ment OF labor and the federal trade
commission can DO great deal toward
supplying the public systematically
and at short intervals. with informa-
ion 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 fx-
Ing which are being used by dealers In
certain foodstufs and other necessities.
n~.... 81,
s's :" 's " o'A"e'
There can be little doubt that retail
ers are in part-sometimes In large
part-responsible for exorbitant prices;
and It 10 quite practicable for the gov
eminent through the agencies have
mentioned. TO supply the public with
full information as to the prices At
which retailers buy and as to the costs
of transportation they pay in order