The Dermott news., 1919-08-14


 ly where she stands in respect to peace; and what we will do is for her the chief question upon which her qui- etude of mind and confidence of pur- pose depends. While there is any pos ability that the peace terms may be changed or may be held long in abey- ance, or may not be enforced because of divisions of opinion among the pow CTS associated against Germany 1t is idle to look for permanent relief
 Immediate Relief Measures.
 By way of immediate relief surplus stocks Of both food and clothing in the hands Of the government will be sold and or course sold at prices at which there is no profit And by way of d more per Hlanent correction of prices surplus stocks In private hands will be drawn out Of storage and put upon the market For tuhately under the terms of the tood-con- trol act the hoarding uf foodstufs can be checked and prevented and they will De, With the greatest energy FoodStuffs can be drawn out of storage and sold by legal action which the department of justice Will institute wherever necessary. but as soon as the s!tuation Is systemati- cally dealt with 1t is Lot likely that the courts will often have to be resorted to Much of the accumuIatng of stocks has no doubt been due te l4e sort Of specu- latlon which always results from uneer= talnty.
 Would Have Prices Plainly Marked
 l would also recommend that IL be required that all goods destined for in terstate commerce should in every case where their form or package makes 1t possible be plainly marked Nath the price at which they left the hands Of the producer. such requirement would bear close analogy L. certain prov lsIous Of the pure food act bv which tt ts required that certain detailed in formation be given on the labels Of packsees of foods and drugs.
 Ana It does not seem to me that we could contine ourselves to detailed measures Of this klad. f II F, indeed our purpose tn assume national control Of tae proeeSst- of distribution. take II for grated that thai Is our purpose and our duty Nothing less will suffice We need not tate to handle d national qucstiau m d Ha- uonai way We should 20 beyond The Treasures l have suggested We should formulate a law requiring a federal hcepse of all corporations engaged in interstate commerce a-d eubody8ng in the license, or in the .8nd4tious under which Y Is to be fsSard spccirs regu latians designed ta secure competitive selling and prevent uueonsc enable profits n the method of marketing
 Law Would Do Much
 SEeh law would afford welcome ap. poraHHtty to affect ataef much needed rc. forms Tn the business of interstate ShHp= ment and lu the methods Of corporations "tteh are engaged In II. but for the m Hent rontiue ms recamms uaat5onS to# tHe# ebjeet fHHediateiv in hand winch Is tl 3aWer tHe cost of #zire
 We are dealing gentlemen of ttr caH# Efess, lneed hardly say. with very critical and Very difficult matters Ne should aa forward With confidence @lpas t4e road Nc see bat wc shaaid also seek ta aa.Ilz Pi"HeHd the whole ot the s.cae amidst 8Ezsa We asl IHsre t~ no Greuu5 for some e1 the fearful forecasts l hcs5- ut teHe4 4hoat #e tgt the CuIdIt .aa =f the Nofsd Is urg4esttuuahIy yrry EfaVs and NJ shotla tlce il eumpre I8gud.uEl4 The st-atlea at our own HcanaY Is .z>sep- HerateiE fortunate We of al peoples can afford to keep our heads and ta de isrJntue Hpou moderate sud sensible courses af action when VIII tusaH~. us asathSt# tte passions and IIst euper> N hIch are Working such deep urh4ppIueSs for soine ui t4e distressed nations oH the othss sale of the sea
 kat We may he involved in their dis uesscs un.ess We help=aH5. Hetq with ena efsy aHj intelligence
 iIfsreEarding tbe surplus stock m the hands ot the government there was greater supply Of feodstuGs n tAls rouu- try on June l Of this year than al the same date last year. In the combined ta- tai Of a number of the most important foods In dry and cold storage the excess Is quite ls per cent And Set prt-es haVc risen
 Law Department Active
 The attorney general has teen making a caretul study of the situation as a whole and of the iaws that ean he ap- piled Co better II and is convinced that under tAe stimulation and tenptatiou af exceptional circumstances combinations 0f producers and combinations of traders have been formed for the control Of saIl- pues and ot prices which are clearly m restraInf of trade. and agaIHs these pros cautions will be promptly instituted and actively pushed which wtll m ali Hkeit- hood have prompt corrective effect There IS reason to believe that the prlees of leather, CT coal. of lumber and of tex uleS have been materially affected by forms Of concert and operation among the producers and marseter> ut these and other universally necessary commodities which < will be poSstbl tu redress No Watehfal or cuersetic effort Will he spared to accomplish this necessary re suit trust that there VIII uet br many cases Tn winch prosecution wtl be Heces- saiy Public action VIII no doubt cause many who have perhaps anw.ttnsiy adopted Illegal me ethods to abandon tueu. promptly and of taeir own uouoa
 The department of Cummerce tIr department Of agriculture. the depart meut of labor aud the federal trade commlss on can do great de.3 toward supplying the public Sy>tematiea4ty and a short intervals with auforu, ton regarding the actual supply 5t particular commodities thatfis lu ex tstence and available with rezard to supplies which ar, in existence AHt not with regard to the methods of pr.e. fix tag winch are being used by dealers in certain foodStuNs and other necessities
 Retailers in Part to Blame.
 There can he little douuf That rFtaU- CTS are iu part-sometiufes in large part-resp9uSibl for eNorbttant prices and if is quite practicable for the gov ernment through the aEencie~ have mentioned to supply the puhIf, with full information as 10 the prices al which retailers buy and as 10 the costs of transportation they pay in order that 1t may he known just what mar gin of profit they are dema ndinE Opin ion and concerted action on the part of purchasers can probably do the rest Let me urge in the first place that