Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-09

shouid be dealt with at once by
holdins on from the new process OF
Significant Facts DiscIoscd.
Some very interesting and significant
facts with regard TO stocks on hand
and the rise Of prices in the face OF
abundance have been disclosed by the
inquiries OF the Department OF Agri-
.ulture the department OF Labor and
seem to Justify the statement that in
the case of many necessary commod
ties elective means have been found
tho law OF supply and demand
Disrcgarding the surplus stock in
tho hands Of the government. there
was a greater supply OF foodstuns in
than II the same date last year. In
ne combined total OF a number OF
( cold storage the excess is quite 10 pcr
cent And yet, prices have risen. TIE
s99n ,h. Of fresh eggs on hand in June
/ by nearly 10 per cent than the supply
on hand at the same time last year
and yet the wholesale price was forty
cents dozen as against thirty cents a
year ago The stock, Of frozen fowls
had increased more than EOS per cent.
thirty four and a half cents per pound
! 10 thlrty-scven and a half cents.
supply of Creamery Butter.
The supply of creamery butter had
increased i2a per cent and the price
per pound. The supply OF salt beef had
been augmented 5 per cent and the
dollars barrel 70 th lGi doI naq
barre Canned corn had increased
r.; r s to. nearly as per cent. and had
price. In few foodstuns the prices
naa deGnned. but IN nothing Ike the
/ nronorti9,n IN which the supply had
canned tomatoes had increased lo2 per
sent and yet the price had declined
In some cases there had been the usual
result Of an increase of price follow
ing a decrease OF supply, but in al
n;cst every instance the increase Of
p.:ces had been disproportionate 10 the
decrease in stock.
Charges Combinations Exist.
The Attorney: Genera! has been
5on a w SSoffu aa snd d. Of ne
can he applied 20 better il. and is con :
vinced hat under the stimulation and
stances. combinations Of producers and
Som IA rlonS OF traders have been
formed 70. the control Of supplies and
Q. prices which arc clearly in restraint
/ OF trade and against these prosecutions
/ VII lie promptly instituted and active
y ptshed which Will in all liklihood
IS reason 10 believe that the prices
o. leather, OF coal, of lumber and Of
oN iorMs OF concert and cooperation
among the producers and marketers
o, these and other universally ncccs-
sary commodities which IL viii be pos
siole 70 redress No watchful or encr-
Eeic ehoTt Will be spared 10 accom-
Ds1.sh mis- NECESSARY result. trust tina,
iherc VIII not oe many cases in which
prosecution VIII be necessary Public
acton VII no doubt cause many VINO
Iesa! methods TO abandon them prompt
~ and or their own motion.
buyer. Should Know Fncts.
ma pno!!city can accomplish great
aea.' The purchascr can often take
and Influences he is dealing with: and
purchasers are not disinr.ncd 10 do
anything, either singly or collectively.
protection. The Department OF Com
merce. the Department OF Agricu!ture.
the D.par1ment Of Labor and the Fed
era Trade Commission can do a crea,
deal toward supplying the public. sys-
tematically and at short Intervals.
Win intor11ation regarding the ACTUAL
Is IN existence. but not available be-
cause OF boarding and with regard 10
INC methods OF price-hxinG which are
siuhs and Other necessaries. There
can be little doubt that retailers are
IN part--sometimes IN large part-rc-
Is quite practicable for the govern
neni: through the agencies j have
n
iuli Information az TO the prices al
which retailers buy ana AS 10 the costs
OF transpo! they pay. in orde r
hat ii may DC known Just what mar
S!n Of pront they are demanding.
Opinion and concerted action on The
part OF purchasers can probably do the
rest "
Funds Nu.t he Provided.
That Is, the agencies may perform
ms indispensable service pro viticd tina,
congress Viii supply them with the
necessary funds 70 prosecute their in
CURES and keep their price lists up
10 date Hitherto the Appropriately
Committees OF the houses have NOT
a,,maEs; l tcar. seen The FUN value OF
ana commissi ons have been very much
sl!a!tenei for means to render .h's
service; That adequate funds be pro
r vided ny appropriation for this puT-
pose; ana PROVIDED as promptly as
possible is one OF thc means OF greatly
ame,,iio,raitns. the present distressing
conditions Of livelihood that nave
come TO urge, IN this attempt TO con
:tr' Win you the hest ways 10 serve
IN" o@uHiFy IN ms emergency. /, is
one or the absolutely necessary means
supplied a, once "'
There are many other ways Exist
many many perfectly legitimate methods by
winch the government can exercise re.
sI!aInt and guidance.
Anks t:Af~nSion Of Act
LEY m. urge. in the irst place, tina
, inc pr"sen, food control act should b,
extended. both as TO period Of tim,
during which il shall remain in opcr.
: alton and as to the comnodi;ics !,
; which 1t shall apply Its provision,
. against boarding should nc made I,
Apply not only 10 food out also to feed
SUNS 10 iuci 10 clothing. and to rnanS
oihe- commodities winch are indis
rnttnly nHces sdrics Of NE As Il
, stands nov. II is Emitted in operation
3 10 INC nerlod Of the war. and be
: comes imperative upon the for,na
Now L. a Good