The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-09


process Of distribution.
Some very Interesting and significant
fActss with regard to stocks OF hand
End the rise Of prices in the face OF
abundance have been disclosed by the
inquiries Of the department Of agri-
culture. the department OF labor and
the federal trade commission. They
seem to justify the statement that in
the case OF many necessary commodi-
ties effective means have been found
to prevent the normal operation Of the
law OF supply and demand.
Disregarding the surplus stocks in
the hands Of the government. there
was a greater supply of foodstuffs in
this country on June OF this year
than at tho same date last year. In
the combined total OF number Of the
storage the excess Is quite 10 per cent.
And yet prices have risen,
supply Bis-rrices Great.
The stock Of frozen fowls had in
creased more than 2ss per cent. and
Yet the price had risen also. from 34H
cents per pound to 37h cents.
The supply of creamery butter had
increased 12s per cent and the price
from Al to SO cents per pound.
The supply of salt beef had been
augmented three per cent. and the
to $36 a barrel.
Canned corn had increased in stock
nearly 90 per cent. and had remained
substantially the same in price. In a
few foodstuffs the prices had declined.
hut in nothing like the proportion in
which the supply. had increased.
For example. the stock of canned
tomatoes had Increased 102 per cent.
and yet the price had declined only 2
there had been the usual result OF an
increase Of price following a decrease
Of supply but In almost every instance
the increase of price had been dispro-
rortionate to the decrease in stock.
The Encouragement has been maxi
ing a careful study of the situation as
a whole and of the laws that can be
applied to better II. and Is convinced
that under the stimulation and tempta-
ton of exceptional circumstances.
CO mbinations OF producers and COM
tinations OF traders have heen formed
for the control Of supplies and prices
which are clearly In restraint of trade
ard against these prosecutions Will be
promptly instituted and actively pushed
'. hich will in all likelihood have a
pi ompt corrective effect.
There is reason to believe that the
prices Of leather, Of coal. of 'uni Der
and textiles have been materially af-
focted by forms Of concert and co-ope-
ration among the producers and mar
keters of these and other universally
necessary commodities which it will
b. possible to redress,
Congress Must Help.
That is th ose agencies may perform
this indispensable service provided
congress will supply them with the
necessary funds to prosecute their
inquiries and keep their price lists
up to date.
Hitherto the appropriation commit
tees of the houses have not always,
fear. seen the full value of these in
ouiries. and the departments and
commissions have been very much
strained for means to render this
service.
That adequate funds be provided
by appropriation for this purpose
and provided as promptly as posi-
BILE, is one of the means OF greatly
the present distressing
conditions of livelihood that have
come TO urge. in this attempt to con-
cert with you the best ways 10 serve
the country in this emergency
1t is one of the absolutely neees-
sary means, underlying many others,
and can be supplied at once.
ing law is inadequate, There are
many perfectly legitimate methods by
which the government can exercise
restraint and guidance.
Let me urge. in the first place. that
the present food control act should
be extended both as to the period OF
time during which it shall remain
in operation and as TO the commodi-
ties to which 1t shall apply, Its pro
viaions against boarding should be
made to apply not only to food, but
also TO feedstuffs, to fuel, TO cloth
ing and to many other commodities
which are indisputably necessaries of
life.
Should Extend Act
AS it stands now it is limited In
operation to the period OF the war
and becomes imperative upon the
formal proclamation of peace. But
l should Judge that it was clearly
within the constitutional power OF the
congress to make similar permanent
provisions and regulations with re-
gard to all goods for interstate COM
merce and to exclude them from in
terstate shipment if the requirements
OF the law are not complied with.
Some such regulation is impera-
lively necessary. The abuses that
nave grown up IN tne manipulation
of prices by the Withholding OF food
stuffs and other necessaries of life
cannot otherwise be effectively pre-
vented. There can be no doubt OF
either the necessity OF the legitimacy
of such measures.
May not call attention to the fact
also that the present act prohibits
profl,eerinE. the prohibition is &C
cornpanied by no penalty 1t IS clear
ly in the public interest that a penalty
should be provided which will be per-
suasive.
To the same end I earnestly recon-
mend. in the second place that the
congress pass a law regulating cold
storage as it is regulated, for exam
pie. by the laws OF the state OF New
Jersey. which limit the time during
which goods may be kept in rage,
prescribe the methods of disposing OF
them II kept beyond the permitted
period. and require that goods be re-
leased from storage shall in all cases
bear the date Of their receipt
Price on Package.
It would materially add to the SER
vice ability OF the law. for the pur-
pose we now have in view. If 1t were
also prescribed that all goods re-
leased from storage for interstate
shipm ents should have plainly mark
ed upon each package the selling
or market price at which they went
l.