The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-03-07
Business and Finances
py w. S. Cousins, Ed tor American Benker.

CURED for tax of any kind The CO. (!
operation of all who participated in
previous campaigns will be urgently
needed in the forthcoming drive, The |
requirements of the Treasury are i'm
perative and cannot be financed with
out loan and the loan cannot be Sc
cured. without a vigorous campaion
The duty of all is plain.
Government Wheat Bill.
The house bill appropriating 81 ,OOO,-
OOO,O0O to maintain the guaranteed
price of $226 per bushel for the 1919
wheat crop has been approved by the
house and senate agricultural commit
tees and will doubtless become effec
tive before the adjournment of con
gress. This may or may not mean that
the government will be called upon
to make good billion dollar deficit to
the farmers of the country, for MANY
important factors will enter into con
sideration Of the matter before the
1919 harvest is consumed.
The promised wheat yield is now
one billion bushels. Allowing for the
direct loss of one dollar a bushel, the
net price Of the grain in the worlds
markets would, therefore, be 81 .26 per
bushel This is figured by experts as
entirely too low. Australia, at the
present time, is receiving SIS bush
ell; Argentina $l.5l The guaranteed
price of Brtain's wheat is-$1.o5 per
bushel, but it is said that spot wheat
is bringing $40 in the open market.
On the basis Of these reports. the aver
age price of wheat today is not far
from $175 bushel.
1t will next be wise to consider what
the prospects of full supply will be be-
fore the close of the year. 1t is true
that Argentina and Australia now have
surplus of wheat, but Broomhall es-
Inmates this surplus at not more than
10 per cent of the worlds yearly crop
This is not much for countries which
are always to be reckoned in the ex-
porter class.
If America can raise billion bush
els she will have hall. a billion for ex-
port This would be an enormous
amount under normal conditions, but
times are anything but normal On
the contrary the rich wheat-growing
districts of Russia will be barren this
year and are, in fact, already crying
for wheat from other parts of the
world. Germany has been accused OF
carrying on the old wartime camou-
f1agc into her food situation, but, at
all events, both she and Austri1 are
far below their requirements in the
matter of foodstuffs, while France
and Belgium make no effort to con-
ceal Their; plight They need food and
need it now.
TIL conclusion of the whoie. matter i:
that the wheat supply of the world is
far below normal. and that for this
year, at least, prices will not ever
approximate pre-war basis The gov.
eminent is prudent in taking neces
sary precaution in order to carry on
the guarantees made under the stress
OF war IT is doubtful if the losses arr
, anywhere near the amount provided
, for in the wheat bill
: The Produce Exchange in New
) York has forwarded to Washington ;
5 protest against 1.-THE adoption of the
E BILL urging in preference that the 1911
: wheat crop be marketed through thu
} regular commercial channels. Tha
: this end may be attained it propose
E that the food control be allowed t
: lapse and that the government con
S tract guarantee for the 1919 crop o
| wheat be honorably and equitably set
: tied as difference to be arrived a
r and paid to the grower in name
4 similar to other war contracts, tn
: continuance OF which has been "ren
0 dered nadvisable" by the sudden com
a ing of peace.
No opposition is voiced to the grant
c ing of an appropriation for the pur
c pose Of protecting the government
guarantees TO the wheat growers an
i the exchange recognizes in view Q
: its interest in the outcome of tn