The Dolores star., 1919-08-15

| 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 | hear ut
| tered about me. but the condition of the
| world is unquestionably very grave and
| we should face 1t comprehendingly. The
| situation Of our own country Is eNcep-
| tionately fortunate. We of all peoples
| can afford to keep heads and to de-
| termine upon moderate and sensible
| courses of action which will insure us
against the passions and 'uistempers which
are working such deep unhappiness for
| some of the distressed nations on the
| other side of the sea
But may be involved in their dis
| tresses unless we help and help with en-
| ergy and intelligence
DisreGarding the surplus stock in the
| hands of the government, there was a
greater supply of foodstuffs in this coun-
| try on June OF this year than at the
same date last year. In the combined to-
| tai Of a number OF the most important
| foods In dry and cold storage 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 example, was
greater by nearly 10 per cent than the
supply on hand at the same time last
| year, and yet the wholesale price of eggs
was 90 cents dozen, as against 80 cents
a year ago. The stock OF frozen fowls
| had increased more than 2ss per cent. and
yet the prices had risen also from 34ia
| cents per pound to 37ls cents. The supply
| OF creamery butter had increased 12S per
cent and the price from Il to SO cents per
pound The supply of salt beef had been
| augmented per cent and the price had
gone up from $34 barrel to s36 barrel.
| Canned corn aad increased in stock near
| ly 80 per cent and had remained sub
stantially the same In price.
Few Price Drops Not Enough.
In few foodstufrs the prices had de-
| clined, but in nothing like the proportion
| in which the supply had increased. For
example. the stock of canned tomatoes
| had increased 1902 per cent. and yet the
| price had declined only % 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.
Law Department Active.
The attorney general has been making
| careful study of the situation as a
| whole and of the laws that can be ap-
| piled to better 1t 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 clearly in
| restraint of trade. and against these pros
/ ecutons will be promptly instituted and
| actively pushed which will in all likeli-
| hood have a prompt corrective effect.
| There is reason to 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
| other universally necessary commodities
which it will be possible to redress. No
watchtul energetic effort will be
| spared to accomplish this necessary re-
| suit. 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 unwittingly
adopted Illegal methods to abandon them
| promptly and of their own motion.
Publicity Will Do Much.
And publicity can accomplish great
| deal The purchaser can often take care
| of himself If he knows the facts and in
fuences he is dealing with. and purchas-
ers are not dsinclined to do anything, Ell
ther singly collectively. that may be
| necessary for their self-protection.
| The department of commerce. the
| department of agriculture. the depart
| ment OF labor and the federal trade
| commission can do a great deal toward
| supplying the public systematically
| and at short intervals, with informa-
| tion regarding the actual supply of
/ particular commodities that is in ex-
| istence and available with regard to
supplies which are in existence but not
| with regard to the methods of price fix
ing which are being used by dealers in
certain foodstuffs and other necessities.
Retailers in Part to Blame.
There can be little doubt that retail
ers are in part-sometimes in large
| part-responsible for exorbitant prices:
and 1t is quite practicable for the gov
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mentioned. to supply the public with
| full information as to the prices al
which retailers buy and as to the costs
of transportation they pay in order
that it may be known just what mar
gin of profit they demanding Opin-
ion and concerted action on the part of
purchasers can probably do the rest.
Congress Must Supply Funds.
That is, these agencies may perform this
indispensable service provided the con-
gress will supply them with the neces-
sary funds to prosecute 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 rem
der this service. That adequate funds be
provided by appropriation for this pur-
pose, and provided as promptly as pos
sibie. Is one OF the means of greatly
amelioratng the present distressing con-
ditions of livelihood that l come to urge,
in this attempt to concert with you the
best ways to serve the country in this
emergency.
1t is OF the absolutely necessary
means. underlying many others, and can
be supplied at once.
There are many otner ways. Existing
law is inadequate. There are many per-
fectly legitimate methods by which the
government can exercise restraint and
guidance.
Let me urge. In the first place, that
the present foodstuf control act should
be extended both as to the period of time
during which It shall remain in operation
and as to the commodities to which 1t
shall apply.
Its provision against boarding should be
made to apply not only to food but also
to feed stuffs, to fuel. to clothing and to
many other commodities which are in
disputably necessaries OF life. As It
stands now It is limited in operation to