The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-08-09


OF the most important foods in dry
and cold storage the excess is quite
10 per cent. And yet prices have
risen.
Eggs For Example.
The supply of fresh eggs on hand
in June of this year, for example
was greater by nearly ten per cent
than the supply on hand at the same
time last year, and yet the wholesale
price was forty cents a dozen, as
against thirty cents a year ago. The
stocks of frozen fowls had increased
more than 29S per cent, and yet the
price had risen also, from S4la cents
per pound to STA cents. The supply
of creamery butter had increased 129
per cent, and the price from Al to 53
cents per pound. The supply Of salt
beef had been augmented three per
cent and the price had gone up from
$34 barrel to $50 a barrel. Canned
corn had increased in stock nearly
90 per cent and had remained sub
stantially the SAME in price. In
few foodstuffs the prices had de-
clined, but in nothing like the pro-
portion in which the supply had in
creased. For example, the stock OF
canned tomatoes had increased 102
per cent and yet the price had de-
clined only 20 cents per dozen cans.
In some cases 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 disproportionate to
the decrease in stock.
The attorney general has been
making a careful study of the situa-
ton as a whole and of the laws that
can be applied to better 1t, and Is
convinced that, under the stimulation
and temptation of exceptional Cir
cumstances, combinations of pro-
ducers and combinations of traders
have been formed for the control of
supplies and of prices which are
clearly in restraint of trade, and
against these prosecutions will be
promptly instituted and actively
pushed which will in all likelihood
have prompt corrective effect.
There is reason to believe that the
prices of leather, Of coal, Of lumber
and of textiles have been materially
affected by forms of concert and CO.
operation among the producers and
marketers of these and other uniyer-
sally necessary commodities which
it will be possible to redress. No
watchful or energetic effort will be
spared to accomplish this necessary
result. 1 trust that there will not be
many cases in which prosecution
will be necessary. Public action will
no doubt cause many who have per-
haps unwittingly adopted illegal
methods to abandon them promptly
and OF their own motion.
Full Publicity Needed.
And publicity can accomplish
great deal The purchaser can often
take care of himself il he knows the
facts and influences he is dealing
with; and purchasers are not disin-
clined to do anything, either singly
or collectively, that may be neces-
sary for their self-protection. The
of commerce. the depart
ment of agriculture, the department
of labor, and the federal trade COM
mission can do great deal towards
the public, Systematically
and at short intervals, with informa-
ton regarding the actual supply OF
particular commodities that is In ex.
istence and available, with regard to
supplies which are in existence but
not available because of boarding, and
with regard to the methods of price. |
fixing which are being used by deal
ers in certain foodstuffs and other
There can be little doubt
that retailers are in part-sometimes
in large part-responsible for exorbi- |,
tant prices, and it is quite practicable
for the government, through the agen- !!
cies 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 that it may be known
Just what margin of profit they are
Opinion and concerted /
action on the part Of purchasers can
probably do the rest.
That is, these agencies may per-
form this Indispensable service pro-
vided the congress will supply them
with the necessary funds to prose-
cute their inquiries and keep their /
price lists up to date. Hitherto the |
appropriation committees of the |
house have not always. l fear, seen
the full value Of these inquiries, and !
the departments and commissions
have been very much straitened for !
means to render this service. That
funds be provided by appro-
priation for this purpose and provided !
as promptly as possible, is one Of the /
means of greatly ameliorating the |
present distressing conditions Of live |
Iihood that / have come to urge in !
this attempt to concert with you the
best ways to serve the country in !
this emergency. 1t is one of the alb
solutely necessary means, underlying |
many others, and can be supplied !
once.
There are many other ways. Elk
|sting law Is inadequate. There are
many perfectly legitimate methods
by which the government can exer-
else restraint and guidance.
Extend Food Control Law.
Let me urge in the first place that t
he present food control act should be |
attended both as to the period of |
ime during which 1t shall remain in
operation and as to the commodities /
C which it shall apply. It's provis- |
ons against boarding should be made |
10 fp11t also n !