The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-25
FLOUR TRADE ASKS
FOR PROTECTION
Resolution Adopted at Prod
uce Exchange Requests Fed
eral Safeguards.

At a joint meeting OF the Eastern
-four trade at the Produce Exchange
resolutions were adopted yesterday af-
ternoon setting forth that the Eastern
seaboard -four trade petitions for i'm
mediate assurance that II will receive
hold as Is now guaranteed to the farmer.
miller and wheat handler against a de-
cline In the price of wheat"
Since the agitation IN favor OF the
donins Of governmental price nxing on
grains and other foodstuffs the -four
trade has been apprehensive as to the
possible effects on -four prices II any
action is taken by Congress affecting
the fxed price OF the 1918 wheat crop.
The price OF wheat to the farmer has
also been fixed by the Government for
the 1919 wheat crop. but the -four men
are not worrying about that just now
II is only the -four from the 1918 crop
that Is causing any uneaSness.
II was recently reported that the De-
partment of Agriculture IL drafting a
bill for introduction for Congress which
will provide that the Government per-
NIT wheat to be sold at worldwide prices
and pocket as a sort OF a war loss the
difference between the fixed price and
the price of wheat s9id under normal
conditions.
Protection Il Wanted.
1t is known that the -four men are as
anxious as men In other lines TO have
Governmental restrictions removed. but
they do not believe they ought TO be
subjected to the possibility OF suffering
losses on -four holdings II the fixed
price of wheat for the 1915 crop is dis
consequence. They sirply want the
same protection against a sudden drop
over night that Is guaranteed wheat
handlers.
The resolution adopted by the -four in
terests was as follows:
Whereas the -four markets OF the
Eastern seaboard are heavily stocked
with grades of -four made compulsory by
the Food Administration and said large
stocks not having been purchased for
any specula tive purposes, such being i'm
possible by reason OF governmentally
esta blishcd bases Of profits and regula-
lions, but only 40 that the demands OF
consumers could be properly met and
"Whereas there is considerable astta-
ton through the daily press urging that
all restrictions on prices OF grain and
other food products be Immediately re-
moved and as an enormous loss would
Immediately result and cause serious
crisis and the -four trade feeling that 1t
Is absolutely imperative that to meet
public demands IL should function prop
erly and be properly protected in 30 do
ing II Is therefore
ID Tvt,a sl,n 70 Ctay-v hna ri
-four trade earnestly petition for i'm
mediate assurance that II will receive
tine same protection on the -four Il may
hold as is now guaranteed 20 the
farmer, miller and wheat handler
against a decline In the price of wheat.
Without this immediate assurance
proper dtstr button OF -four to serve con-
sumers' interests will be very seriously
hampered.
And In the meantime the flour trade
requests the Food Administration TO give
immediate assurance OF its policy during
the remainder OF the crop year that the
-four business may be conducted in
safe and orderly manner and sllay the
fear OF an abrupt reversal OF previous
regulations which would cause great
losses, and give broad publicity TO such
assurance"
Copies of the resolutions will be sent
to President Wilson, the Food Admins
tratlon and julius II. Barnes, head of
the Grain Corporation Of the Food Ad-
Have Great stock on Hand.
Flour men are now loaded UP with
-four and large stocks OF substitutes,
which were all the rage when the Food
Administration programme was In full
swing to conserve wheat so that wheat
four could be sent abroad for the use
of our fighting forces and civilian pop
ulation OF the allied countries The~trade
had to use tho substitutes. and they
played the game with the Food Admin
istration to the limit.
The bakers had bsen assured that
they we're to receive a sixty day notice
of any change In the substitute regula-
lions, but they didn't get 1t. The sub
stItuts rule was terminated more or less
suddenly. and the -four men found them
selves IN possession of big stocks OF rye.
barley -four and other Substitutes which
couldn't be worked of.
1t was said at the -four mems meet
ing yesterday that Philadelphia alone
has 200. 900 barrels on spot OF -four. and
that should thef 1918 wheat crop price
be changed before the end of the crop
year there might be a loss OF 81 a bar
rel on -four, or total loss of 100000.