El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-08-23

THE sale Of army food in progress all over the country
and which opened here Thursday, is an interesting
experiment IN government paternaIsm as shown IN the
effort to help feed the public at the price which the gov
eminent had to pay to get the commodities It IS now
he saving to the public is very large ranging from
20 to 30 percent which is not surprising in view Of the
fact that the commodities purchased long ago, that
all intermediate profits have been eliminated that there
IS no clerical or other expense that goods sold only
comparatively large quantities and cash and carry
basis Those facts do not make prevailing food prees
seem so unreasonable many have believed them to BE-
and wholesalers and retailers alike may find IN them
something to which point in justification Of the prices
they feel compelled to charge
One FL Paso wholesaler voiced his opinion in this wise:
81 can tell from the figures that the government got
Of its goods good while Tor the prices are
verV different from those prevailing and have
ways of knowing for we buy in large quantities Just like
the government does Moreover, the government buying
in haste secured Of its goods without regard for
price fact which would tend to make it pay than
careful business firms Consumers buying the army food
are buying in large packages without regard to grade
and sight unseen When they 90 to their retailers they
buy with careful regard TO quality and quantity paying
for Of beans than for another for instance
because they its quality As uniformly high OF be-
cause It suits their taste"
Nevertheiess there are some thousands Of consumers
here millions Of them throughout the country, who
willing take chances the quality of the food that
the government bought for the army and navy and IS now
offering for sale to them And they deeply appreca
tive Of the price reduction time when soaring prices
making the purchase Of food Of any quality inereas-
ingly difficult
This raises question whether it would help greatly,
until prices find normal level which when largely
increased production has supply oveop demand for
the government to continue buying food and dispensing 1t
TO the people at cost through the channels which now have
been established
There is some doubt about that aside from the ques-
ton Of the propety Of the government entering into
petition with private enterprise except in some such emer-
gency created by the necessity of getting nd Of
ovsuppy accumulated for the army and navy, nobody can
say ofhand what effect pices such competition would
have.
Prices went up when the government went into the
market bought right and left for the army and navy
in enormous Quantities Would not high prices be
the result If the government keep buying for
millions?
Or would the price level automatically down by
reason Of the governments competition IN selling?
These debatabe matters and is doubtful whether
even the best economists could the questions with
any certainty. Only experience could give reliable infor
nation.
One thing certain and that is that in every community
scores Of business would be forced into bankruptcy
and the effect Of that would be very bad
As d result Of this food sale, may be sure that a
discussion VIII be started to whether policy Of pater
nalism would be wise if extended to food supplies It is
worth thinking about the meantime Incidentally,
thing viii depend the satisfaction people experience with
the food they are buying from the government;
whether any is found be spoiled how suits the