The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-08-14

peoples to work until she knows exact
ly where she stands in respect 70
peace; and what we will do is tor her
the chief question upon which her quiz
etude of mind and confidence Of pur-
! pose depends While there is any pos
ability that the peace terms may be
changed or may be held long in abey-
ance, or may not be enforced because
OF divisions of opinion among the pow
ers associated against Germany, IT is
idle to look for permanent relief.
Immediate Relief Measures.
BY way of immediate relief, surplus
| stocks OF both food and clothing in the
hands of the government will be sold and
OF course sold at prices at which there
is no profit. And by way OF more per-
| manent correction of prices surplus
stocks in private hands will be drawn out
OF storage and put upon the market For
/ tunately under the terms of the foOd-con-
| troll act the boarding OF foodstunfs can
be checked and prevented, and they will
be- with the greatest energy Foodstuhs
| can be drawn out of storage and sold by
| legal action which the department OF
| justice win institute wherever necessary;
but as soon as the situation is systemati-
| cally dealt with 1t Is not likely that the
| courts viii often have TO be resOrted 70.
Much of the accommodating of stocks has
no doubt been due To- the sort of specu-
| lation which always results from uncer-
tainty.
Would Have Prices Plainly Marked
l would also recommend that II be
! required that all goods destined for in
! terstate commerce should I'm every case
| where their form or package makes it
possible be plainly marked with the
! price at which they left the hands Of
! the producer. Such "a requirement
| would bear a close analogy to certain
! provisions OF the pure food act by which
! IL is required that certain detailed in
| formation be given on the labels Of
! packages Of foods and drugs.
And 1t does not seem TO me that we
! could confne ourselves to detailed
measures Of this kind, IL II is indeed
! our purpose TO assume national control
! Of the processes of distribution. I
take it for granted that that is our
| purpose and our duty. Nothing less
4 win suffice. We need not hesitate to
/ handle a national question in "A ma
/ tional way We should go beyond the
/ measures / have suggested We should
/ formulate a law requiring a federal
/ license Of all corporations engaged In
| Interstate commerce and cmbodying I'm
/ the license, or in the conditions under
/ which II is to be issued specific reEu-
! lations designed to secure competitive
! selling and prevent uncomfortable
! profits in the method Of marketing.
Law Would Do Much.
! Such a law would afford ? welcome OPP
! portunlty 10 effect other much-ueeded re-
! forms In the business OF interstate ship
ment and In the methods Of corporations
which are engaged In II. but for the mo-
! ment | contne my recommendations to the
! object Immediately in hand which Is to
| lower the cost of living.
We are dealing gentlemen Of the con
/ gress, need hardly say, with very critical
/ and very difficult matters We should go
! 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 Is no ground for
! some Of the fearful forecasts I hear ut
! tered about me, but the condition of the
/ world is unqucstiOnably very grave and
/ we should face il comprehendiuEly. The
4 situation Of our own country is eXCep-
! lionately fortunate We of all peoples
/ can afford TO keep our heads and TO de
/ termue upon moderate and sensible
! courses Of action which win Insure us
against The passions and dlstemp6rs which
are working such deep uuhappiness for
/ some Of the distressed nations on the
4 other side of the sea
/ Put we may be involved In their dis
\ tresses unless we help. ana help with en-
ergy and intelligence.
bisregardiug the surplus stock IN the
! hands Of the government. there was
/ greater supply OF foodsufs I'M this coun-
, try on June Of this year than at the
same date last year In the combined to
tai of q number o. the most important
foods In dry and cold storage the excess
Is quite ls per cent And yet prices have
risen
Law Department Active.
The attorney general has been making
a careful study OF the situation as a
whole and of the laws that can be ap-
| piled 70 better II and Is convinced that
under the stimulation and temptation Of
exceptional circumstances, combinations
of producers and combinations Of traders
have been formed for the control OF sup
plies and Of prices which are clearly In
restraint Of trade. and against these pros-
erutions Will be promptly Instituted and
/ actively pushed which will In all lkell-
/ mood have prompt corrective effect
There ia reason 10 believe that the prices
Of leather, of coal, Of lumber and of tex
tiles have been materially affected by
/ forms OF concert and cooperation among
/ the producers and marketers Of these and
I other universally necessary commodities
1 which 10 VIII be possible to Eedress No
. WatDhful Cr energetic effort win be
/ spared TO accomplish this necessary re
suit ] trust that there Will not be- many
I cases IN which prosecution VIII be neces-
sary Public action viii no doubt cause
. many who have perhaps unwittlngly
adopted Illegal methods TO abandon them
promptly and Of their own motion.
TIE department of commerce. the
department Of agriculture. the depart
! meut of labor and the federal trade
commission can do great deal toward
! supplying the public systematically
and at short intervals with lnforma-
+. tton regarding the actual supply of
particular commodities that Is in cx-
. lstrnce and available with regard to
supplies which are in existence but not
with regard to the methods of price fix
iug which are being used by dealers in
certain fuodstuns and other necessities.
Retailers In Part to Blame.
There can be little doubt that retail
'rs are in part--sometimes in large
ptrt-rc spousible for eKorhitant prlces.
and II is quite practicable for the gov
,rnment through the agencies 1 have
mentioned, TO supply the public with
tull Information as to the prices at
which retailers buy and aa to tho costs
OF transportation they pay I'm order
mat u may be known Just what mar
gin of proht they are demanding. Opiu-
ION and concerted action on the part OF
purchasers can probably do the rest.
Let me urge. w the first place. that
the present foodstun control act should
ho extended both as TO the period OF time
during which e shall remain I'm operation
aui ns TO the commodities TO which II
shall apply
lts provision against boarding should br
made to apply not only 10 food hut also
~ feed stunts 10 fuel 10 clothing. ana II
many other commodities which are In.
dsputaby uecessaries ~ llfe Az II
| ttaUdr pptu . % tttptt.a 10