The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-09


market would disclose and dealers
were determined to be ready for
whatever might happen, as we'll as
eager to reap the full advantage
Of rising prices. They will now see
the disadvantage, as we'll as the
danger. Of holding of from the new
process Of distribution.
Some very interesting and sig
nificant facts with regard to stocks
on hand and the rise of prices In
the face of abundance have been
disclosed by the inquiries OF the
Department of Agriculture, the
Department of Labor and the Fed
eral Trade Commission. They seem
to justify the statement that in
the case Of many necessary com
modities effective means have been.
found to prevent the normal oper-
alton of the law of supply and
demand.
Dlsregarding the surplus stocks
in the hands of the Government,
there was a greater supply Of food
stuffs In this country on June
Of this year than at the same date
last year. In the combined total
of a number of the most impor-
tant foods in dry and cold stor-
age the excess is quite 10 per cent.
And yet prices have risen.
The supply OF fresh eggs on
hand In June of this year, for ex-
ample, was greater by nearly 10
per cent. than the supply on hand
at the same time last year. and
yet the wholesale price was 40
cents a dozen as against 30 cents
o year ago.
More and Higher Fowls.
The stock of frozen fowls had
increased more than 2ss per cent,
and yet the price had risen also,
from San cents per pound to
S7h cents. The supply of cream
cry butter had increased 12s per
cent. and the price from Al to SO
cents per pound.
The supply of salt beef had been
augmented per cent, and the
price had gone up from s34 a
barrel to $36 a barrel. Canned corn
had increased in stock nearly %
per cent. and had remained sub
stantially the same in price. In
a few foodstuffs the prices had de-
clined. but in nothing like the pro-
portion in which the supply had
increased.
For example, the stock Of canned
tomatoes had increased 102 per
cent. and yet the price had de-
clined only 25 cents per dozen cans.
In some cases there had been the
usual result Of an increase of price
Following decrease of supply. but
in almost every instance the in
crease Of price had been dIspropor-
Tomato to the decrease in stock.
The Attorney General has been
making a careful study Of the stu
alton as a whole and of the laws
that can be applied to better IL and
is convinced that under the stimu-
lation and temptation of excep-
tonal circumstances combinations
of producers 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 prosecu-
tons will be promptly instituted
and actively pushed which will in
all likelihood have a prompt cor
receive 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 cooperation among
the producers and marketers Of
these and other universally nee
essary commodities which 1t will
be possible to redress.
Funds Are Necessary.
No watchful or energetic effort
will be spared to accomplish this
necessary result. trust that
there will not be many cases in
which prosecution will be neces-
sary. Public action will no doubt
cause many who have perhaps un-
Willingly adopted illegal methods
to abandon them promptly and Of
their own motion.
And publicity can accomplish a
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 disinclined to do anything,
either singly or collectively, that
may be necessary for their self
protection. The Department Of
Commerce, the Department of Ag-
riculture, the Department Of La
Dor and the Federal Trade Com
mission can do a great deal to-
ward supplying the public. syste-
matically and at short intervals.
with information regarding the
actual supply OF particular COM
modities that is in existence and
available, and with regard to sup
plies which are in existence but
not available because of boarding,
and with regard TO the methods of
price fixing which are being used
by dealers in certain foodstuffs
and other necessaries.
There can be little doubt that
retailers are in part-sometimes in
large part-responsible for exorbi-
tant prices; and It is quite prac-
ticable for the Government,
through the agencies l have mem
toned, 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 1t may be known
just what margin Of profit they
are demanding. Opinion and con-
certed action on the part OF pur-
chasers can probably do the rest.
That is, those agencies may per-
form this indispensable service
provided the Congress will supply
x.rtN he. a., 4