New-York tribune., 1920-05-19
Senator Favors
u. s. Operating
Retail Stores
v,,sIs. of Massachusetts,.
PROPOSES Government Co
Into Distribution and
Trading on Large Scale
Would Expose Profteers
1n,roduces Resolution Pro-
viding for Revelation of
Hinge Income Tax Returns
60 1...a,-..e.s NnShanoton Rurcnu

r..r 7-hs Tri6u~e'S Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON. May 1s.-Govern-
asnt trading in commodities as a
rsmedy for prodteering in necessities
= life was urged in the Senate to-day
y senator Walsh, OF Massachusetts,
Democrat
aInaugurate public trading on a
,.rve scale unless exorbitant profits
40 voluntarily ana materially reduced
a. .. once" Senator Walsh demanded. Il
rscomnlend government competition as
.n available remedy"
Senator Walsh introduced q resolu-
,;on calling for the appointment of a
snecial committee to investigate profi-
t.4ring and to reveal the profits made
hv manufacturers and dealers in
Beeessaries as shown by their income
tx returns. The resolution follows:
Resolved. That the President Of
me Senate is hereby authorized and
directed to appoint committee of
five Senator'S. three from the ma
;o~;ty and TWO from the minority, to
investigate &ttN iSSNIN 10 li4S senate
the relation between high prices for
recesssries and the concentration of
wealth, and for this purpose the
President Is hereby requested to
nerpnjt such committee to inspect the
tax returns Of any corporation, as
sociation or partnership in accord
ance with Section PSI of the revenue
act Of 1918
Would Examine Tax Returns
Senator Walsh said that thorough
examination a income tax returns by 8
committee Of the Senate to disclose
the real extent Of protiteering would
give indispUtable proof that the gov
ernment did not intend 10 keep secret
any facts relating to pronteering.
As another means Of coping with
The situation the Senator demanded
immediate action by the Senate on the
long pending protteering meas
ures. such as the blue sky" laws, the
Kenyon kendrick and Gronna bills fol
separation Of packing houses and stock
yards, the NcNary bill to make com
pulsory the stamping Of manufacturer
cost or articles for sale and Other
measures recommended by President
Wilson.
"Let Congress prove to the country
that It stands ready and is willing, an(
that it is determined, promptly t
inaugurate public trading unless prof
teering ceases" the Senator continued
Suggests Government Stores
We should superimpose methods 0
s.ruisu upon the injur Gus machina
riors of self-interest. and if We ar
unable to do so by mere regulativ
measures, then we must take the ma,
ter in our own hands and substitut
government' for private distribution Q
the commodities Of the people.
There still remains the Z ght Of til
psopa TO set up government competi
tors. and | believe if the governMen
would only demonstrate, as in tn
arnor plate case, that It is wiling =
deal in ~ uecessarIes whenever profit
become eXtorUIonate. we would dis
cover willingness on thar part to b.
satisfied with fair profits"
Senator Walsh outlir ed the eXten
of unrest n the United States an
gave his views as to furdamenta
causes.
The mos dangerous condition to
day is that aris ng from the though
and belief that our government ha
biu-t4. LLhis t.4G- We tcFt 44Rt GU
form Of government or instrumental
ties to grapple with q great publ
abuse such as now confronts u,
speedily, definitely and adequately" h
said
Radicals sllege thai there is
remedy for existing conditions, and th
elimination of their contention sug
gssts that the remedy lies, not in 20
ltical, but in Industrial reorganization
Denies Need for Despair
81 protest against the belief tina
ths only salvation lies in the over
throw Of the present order. i refuse Z
sdmt there is not the means vested i
the chosen forms Of our governmen
10 deal with and remove evils an
abuses which exist, however deepl