Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-08-09

Treaty Saying Relief Can't Be
 Expected on Basis of
 Uncertainty.
 Washington, Aug. 8.-~President Wilson laid several specific proposals before congress today for checking the high cost of living, but at the same time declared permanent re- suits could not be expected until peace time bases were fully restored by ratification of the peace treaty. High prices, the president told congress, were not justified by short age of supplies, either present or prospective but were created in many cases "artificially and deliberately by 'vicious practices" Retailers, he said, were responsible in large part for extortionate prices.
 Strikes, the president warned the labor world, would only make mat ters worse and those who sought to employ threats or coercion were only preparing their own destruction" Leaders of organized labor, the president said, he was sure would presently yield to second sober thought.
 "IllegaP and criminal" were the words the president used in charac- teriZing the methods by which some present day prices have been brought about.
 Present laws, he said would be energetically employed to the limit to force out food hoards, and meet the situation, so far as possible, but tc supplement- the existing statues he specifically urged the following: Extend YosN CJmtsca. s4a. !
 Licensing of all corporations
 engaged in interstate commerce
 with specific regulations de-
 signed to secure competitive
 selling and prevent "uncon-
 scios profits" in the method of marketing.
 Extension of the food con-
 trol act to peace times and
 the application of it's provisions
 against hoarding of fuel, cloth
 ing and other necessities of fife as well as food. A penalty in the food con-
 trol act for profiteering, law
 regulating cold storage, limit ing the time during which
 goods may be held; prescribing a method of disposing of them if held beyond the permitted and requiring that when re-
 leased goods bear the date of storage.
 Laws requiring that goods released from storage for
 interstate commerce bear the
 selling prices at which they
 went into storage and requir-
 ing that all goods destined for interstate commerce bear the
 price at which they left the hands of the producer Enactment of the pending bill for the control of security issues.
 Additional appropriations for government agencies which can
 supply the public with full in- formation as to prices at which retailers buy. Early ratification of the peace treaty so that the "free
 processes of supply and de-
 mand" can operate.
 Immediate steps by executive agencies of the government 1 promised by the president in-
 cluded:
 The limiting and controlling
 of wheat shipments and credits
 to facilitate the purchase of wheat in such way as not to raise, but rather lower the
 price of flour at home.
 Sale of surplus stocks of food and clothing in the hands of
 the government.
 The forced withdrawal from
 storage and sales of surplus
 stocks in private hands.
 General Suggestions.
 Increase of production.
 Careful buying by house. wives.
 Fair dealing with the people
 on the part of the producers, middle men and merchants. I That there be no threats and undue if1sistence upon the in- i terest of a single class. ] Correction of "many things" | in the relation between capitol \ and labor in respect to wages ,I and conditions of labor.
 In concluding, the president }, made plea. fer deliberate, in- 'I telligent action, reminding con- gress that an unbalanced world Il was looking to the United
 States.
 ], "We. and we almost alone" ;, he said, "now hold the world ' steady. Upon our steadfaSk- ness. and seH de- }, pend the affairs of nations Il everywhere. It is in this su- l preme crisis this crisis for all