New-York tribune., 1919-08-04
Stamping of Production
Costs on All Articles
and Licensing System
Expected To Be Urged
Coal Price Fixing
Likely To Be Asked
Reduction of Circulation
of Currency and Lower
Wheat Price Suggested
Ne,r York Tribune
Washington Bureau

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Aug. 3.-The Cabi-
net committee that is wrestling with
the cost of living problem is due to re-
port to the President on Tuesday. It
is conjectured that this committee, at
the suggestion of Attorney General
Palmer, will advise the revival of the
food administration with greater pow
ers than it had during the war. Among
the other proposals may be the follow
ing:
To make it compulsory to stamp
production costs on all articles, thus
making 1t evident to all purchasers
what proportion of the retail price
goes for distribution charges and
profits.
To pool and fixe the price of coal.
To put all food dealers under
licensing and inspection system
10 reduce the currency circulation
To sell at a lower price the wheat
which the government may have to
purchase at S226 bushel under the
terms of it's guarantee, thus reducing
the cost of -four and bread (This
proposal. however, is considered of
doubtful value in view of the posi-
hilit.i that wheat may bring more in
the open market than the govern
ment price)
a!ocntains of Data Complied
Various government information and
statistical agencies are busisy at work
compiling data for the President and
Congress. The Department of Agri-'
culture is preparing to show, by elabo-
rate figures, that the farmers are not
the protiteers. 1t is ready to compare
producers prices and retail statiist cs,
and will do its best to show that wages
have only kept in line with Iivin-
costs, if that. The Federal Trade Com
mission is moblizing the mountainous
data it has collected from time to time
regarding the production costs OF
scores OF different primary products
While most members of Congress.
feel the problem of prices is beyond
legislative solution, all agree that in
the face OF situation which threat
ems to result in chaos some action
must be taken. Whatever the measures
finally taken, they think that he chief
benefit will be from the incidental
publicity. They believe public opinion,
acting on the agencies of production
and distribution in the light OF facts
of costs and prohts all along the line,
may bring some results. They look for
no fundamental relief until the coun-
try goes through painful process OF
dehat on
Seek New Price Level
Dehatlon might be avoided if only
some way could be found, they say, to
stop the ever-advancing prlcs tendency. .
so that new permanent level of prices
could be established. But with such
an nsistent demand for increased
wages as the railroad employees are
now putting forward, Congress sees it
self in the awkward position of having
to give another turn to the vicious
circle" at the same time that it is con-
sidering means of checking its progress.
The difficulties of dealing sanely with
the subject are increased by the injec-
tion of partisan politics into its con
sideration. The Democrats charged
II at the Republicans started the polt-
ical capital ball a-rolling by passing a
resolution requesting the War Depart
ment to distribute army foods directly
to the consuming public. The Repub-
licans charge that the President played
politics by calling Congress off from
is vacation and putting up to it the
fnterlocked price and railway-wage
puzzle.
Indications are that by way of coun-
ter attack the Republicans in Congress
will this week make an effort to pus
the responsibility for nigh prices on
the Administration.
Reckless Use of Funds
If this attack should be made it viii
endeavor to show that the reckless use
of public funds during the war, which
permitted high prices and enormous
profits on all the government bought
or built and granted demands for Wage
increases with a free hand, started the
rolling ball of ever increasing costs
that has now gathered such mo-
mentum that there seems to be no
way of stopping it until it breaks up
in general industrial smash
Four Democratic Senators. Thomas,
Myers, Kirby and Mcclellan, have al
ready laid the responsibility ~ the
Administrations own door. The Ad-
minlstratlon is charged with elevating
wages out of all relation to produc-
ton, with ssarily increasing the
price of all wheatstuffs and with boos.-
ing the price of coal, through polici.s
adopted during the war.
Through the War Labor Board and
the dozens of wage adjustment boards
Of all kinds that it kept busy granting
all sorts of wage demands it is charged
with the responsibility of initiating
wages. The railroad administrator.
IN particular, is charged with this
offence, some critics even going so far
as to say that the sweeping wace
advances granted by Mr.. McAdoo "a
soon as he got control of the RAILWAYS
Is the chief source Of the whole stream
of imitation.
Hoover and Garfield Blamed
Herbert Hoover and DIR. Garfield.
along with the War Labor Board. are
pictured as able supporters of Mr..
McAdoo in stirring up the mad
stampede that now involves everybody
and everything
In the meantime. there is a dis