Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-08-09

uOuDC OI elCner the necessary or Cne legitimacy of such measures. May l not call attention to the fact, also, that, although the present act pro- hibits profiteering, the prohibition is accompanied by no penalty. It is clearly in the public interest that a penalty should be provided that will be pursuasive.
 To the same end, 1 earnestly recommend, Ill the second place, that the congress pass law regulating coud storage as it is regulated, for ex- ample, by the laws of the state of New Jersey, which limit the time dur ing which goods may be kept in stor- age, prescribe the methods of dis posing of them if kept beyond the permitted period, and require that goods released from storage sholl in all casses bear the date of their re- ceipt. It would materially add to the serviceability of the law, for the purpose we now have in view, if it were also prescribed that all goods released from storage for interstate shipment should have plainly mark ed upon each package the selling or market price at which they went in- to storage. By this means, the pur- chaser would always be able to learn what profits stood between him and the producer or the wholesale dealer.
 Control Distribution.
 E "It would serve as a useful evam- pie to the other communities ot this county as well as greatly relieve local distress Ii the congress were to regu- late all such matters very fully TOT the District ot Columbia, where It's legislative authority is without limlt.
 Il would also recommend that 1t be required that all goods destined tor interstate commerce should Tn every case where thelr, form or pack age makes 1t possible be plalnly marked with the price at which they lett the hands of the producer. Sucn a requirement would bear a close an- alogy to certain provisions ot the pure food act, by which It Is required that certain detailed intormatlon be gwen on the labels of packages ot lood and drugs.
 And it does not seem to me that we can cOntlne ourselves to detailed measures ot this kind, if it IS in- deed our purpos. to assume national control ot the processes of distribu- tion. take it TOT granted that that is our purpose and our duty. Nothing less will suffice. We need not hesl- tate to handle a national question in national way. We should go be- yOnd the measures 1 have suggested We should formulate law requiring a federal license, or in the conditions under which it is to be issued, specific regulations designed to secure com petitive selling and prevent uncon- scionable profits in the methods of marketing. Such a law offords vel come opportunity to effect other much needed reforms in the business of interstate shipment and in the methods of corporations which are en- gagged in it, but for the moment 1 con- fine my recommendations to the ob- ject immediately in hand, which is to lower the cost of living.
 Security Regulations.
 "May not add that there is a bill now pending before the congress which, if passed, would do much to stop speculation and to prevent the fradulent methods of promotion by which our people are annually fleeced out of many millions of hard earned monty. l refer to the measure pro- posed by the capital issues committee for the control of security issues. It is measure formulated by men who know the actual conditions of busi- ness and it's adoption would serve a great and beneficent purpose.
 We are dealing, gentlemen of the congress, l need hardly say, with very critical and very difficult mat ters. We should go forward with