The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-08
NEED
FOOD
PRESIDENT URGES
HEAVY PENALTY
FOR PR0FITEERS
Wilson Would Extend Food
Control Act to Peace Times.
FaYOrs Prohibiting Shipment of
Goods Violating 1t.
RECOMMENDS STORAGE LAW
Legislation Modelled After New
Jersey Act Proposed.
Would Compel Goods Be Mark
ed When Put in Storage.
RIP At LABOR LEADERS
Says World on Operating Table
Would Compel Goods Be Mark
ed When Put in Storage.
RAP At LABOR LEADERS
Says World on Operating Table
Without Anesthetie.
IIust Control and Limit Wheat
Shipments, President Declares.


There will bc no real peace prices
until there Is peace.
The world Is ON the operating ta-
bic without ancsthctlc.
All that can he done to restrain
profitccring until peace comes must
bc makCshifi.
Wheat shipments will be con-
trol,cd and limited so as 10 lower
flcur prices in America.
.urpius stocks of food and cloth
inT in government hands will be
pa, on the market.
Hoardins VIII be halted.
Washington, Aug. 8.-Ad-
dressing congress today and pro-
posing remedies to check the
high cost of living, President
Wilson declared that existing
laws were inadequate and that
high prices were not justified by
shortage of supplies, present or
prospective, but were created in
many cases "artificially and de-
liberately," by vicious prac-
tees"
The president recommended
that the food control act be ex-
tended to peace time operation
and that congress exclude from
interstate as well as intrastate
shipment goods which did not
comply with it's provisions.
PcnaIize Profltecrs.
The president also recommended
that the food law be provided with a
substantial penalty for profiteerinE
and that cold storage law be enacted
modelled after the law in New Jersey
by which a time limit be placed on cold
storage. He also recommended that
all goods released from cold storage
be marked with the price prevailing
when they went into storage. He fur
ther recommended that goods in inter-
state commerce be marked with the
prices at which they left the produc-
er. 1t would serve as a useful exam
pie. the president suggested. II con-
Eress enact legislation to control the
situation in the District of Columbia,
where it has unlimited authority.
For L. S. Licensing System.
Further. the president recommend
ed a federal licensing system for cor
porations engaged in Interstate COM
merce which would embody regula-
tions to insure competitive selling
and prevent unconscionable profits in
the method Of marketing He also
urged prompt passage of the law
pending to control security Issues
Making an appeal for the ratifica-
ton Of the peace treaty to turn the
country from war basis. the presi-
dent said:
There can be no peace prices sc
long as our whole financial and econ
omic system is on a war basis"
Secs stln Higher Prices.
"a process has set in" the nrasf.
dent told congress- which is likely
unless something is done. to push
prices and rents and the whole cost of
living higher and yet higher IN 3
vicious cycle TO which there is no logi-
cal or natural end
Some of the methods by which
these prices are produced are ALREADY
Illegal some Of them criminal, and
those who employ them will be ener.
getically proceeded against; but 9th.
ers have not yet been brought under
the law. and should be dealt with al
once by legislation"
Justifies Wage Demands.
Demands for increases of wages. ac.
companying the rising costs of living
the president said. were justified III
there be no other means of enablins
men to live
while there is any possibility tha-
the peace terms may be changed
said the president. referring to hi.
plea for early ratification of the treaty.
so that the country may be turr et
back from a war basis, .or NAV b,
held long in allowance or may not bs
(Contiuued on rags SKI