Omaha daily bee., 1919-08-07
flood Facts First
From the New York Times.

1t is encouraging to learn that the president
will find the facts about food prices before
recommending action. That reverses the way
of some who demand that prices shall be made
to conform to facts decided by their inner con-
sciousness Representative Fitzgerald, disclos-
ing no knowledge of world prices, is moving
to take charge of the price OF wheat, although
already it is in government hands. Accord
ingly, Mr.. Fitzgerald has introduced resolu-
ton directing that this years wheat crop shall
be sold at the worlds price, and that any de-
fciency below the price guaranteed to the farm
ers shall be made good from government funds.
The president may be presumed to know that
there is TO normal world price for wheat as
several nations are cheapenng bread by sub
sides to total of hundreds of millions yearly.
Also perhaps the president already knows that
the public press has reported sales of wheat
above our guarantee price, and that thee farm
ers are under no obligation to sell their wheat
to the government. So far as the farmers prefer
the world market price the government would
have to buy to sell, and would be Spectator
against its will Is not wheat already high
enough? And is it to be doubted that those in
charge of the governments wheat market know
more about it than those who are rushing in
where the president prefers to tread with eau
ton?
There are no prohteers so Objectionable as
food proflteers. Send the rascals to Jail when
found with the goods. Let no guilty man es-
before finding him guilty. There were similar
demands for peremptory action in Canada, but
the presidents way of finding facts first
taken. The official report to the Dominion
Parliament was that
material reduction in the cost OF commod-
tiles in regard to which inquiry was made
can be expected except by increasing the
volume at a lower cost OF production, or by
lowering the cost of distribution.
Any effort on the part of the government or
Parliament attempting reductions in the sale
prices which the farmers are receiving would
intensity the present difficult situation.
Speaking of wheat in particular the commit
tee reported that there were cases of isolated
undue profits and others of bad business meth
DDS, but, on the whole, the business had been
carried on a margin of profit reasonably
close to actual cost.
The Times Washington correspondence the
other day contained the suggestion that prices
were high because people were willing to pay
them for the goods Are not those who buy
and complain rather betraying their accom-
plices, the sellers? If people reduced their
buying so far as possible there might be
marvellous reversal of the proportions now APP
parent between supply and demand, and prices
might fall in way which would be So welcome
and appropriate. The Interstate Commerce
commission has convicted the railways of rails
ing prices by raising rates, although we have
no coin small enough to express the division
of the cost of freight due to rate increases.
The Federal Trade commission has convicted
the wholesalers, although their unit of profit
resembles that of the railway freight charges.
The commissions remedy would be to allow
them to license wholesale trade. Presumably
those already indicted before the public by the
commission would reduce their activities and
the complaint then would be more of the lack
of the food than of its dearness.
1t will seem to many that freedom of trade
from arbitrary restriction would be better
remedy On the whole, political or legal rem
edes are not suited to economic troubles The
medicine to be exhibited" must depend on the
facts and the diagnosis of them by doctors with
information and without Interior motive The
presidents way is the best way. The Grain
corporation can give him information forthwith,
and it is said that it is prepared to give him
some which he can communicate to the country.