Evening star., 1920-01-05
HIGH PRICE RELIEF
BELIEVED REMOTE
DR.. Meeker Differs From
Hopeful View of William
B. C0Iver.
Commodity prices may be expected

Commodity prices may be expected
to remain at present levels for an
indefinite length of time, according
to ROYAL c. Meeker, commissioner Of
labor statistics In this statement DR.
Meeker disagrees with other govern
mental agencies. which. in the last few
days. have declared that the peak OF
prices had been attained and that
declines already were noticeable In
many lines.
In a statement today DR.. Meeker
declares that lower prices or gen
eral price decline should not be con-
sidered vitally necessary, because any
marked decline would be accompa-
MED by equally marked business ana
Industrial depression.
THE sufferings already endured by
the public during the rising price era
of the last four years" DR.. Meeker
said, "will be multiplied tenfold II
the next seven years. A period OF
falling prices always is a time OF
business depression. failures and un-
employment
Speed-Up OF Production Urged.
In order to combat the present high
prices and at the same time prevent
a period of panic and business de-
preston, DIR. Meeker urges that pro
duction should be Speeded up TO the
limit and debts should be paid-not
with more debts. but with economic
goods and services. These processes
should be set in motion without de-
,ay." he says 1T will require sew
eral years to readJust INDUSTRY ano
trade on a firm basis again, and IN
the meantime the United states gov
ernment should. in my opinion. join
with the other leading governments
of the world in the creation or an IN
ternational commission to study ways
NO a - q
relatively constant standard of value
to displace the present monetary
units, which are merely units OF
! weight. and. consequently. variable
in value or purchasing power. The
most important constructive Work
that can be done in any field Is the
establishment of stable STANDARD
of value. so that all the people. rich
and poor, employer and emp!oye.
| bondholder and stockholder, may be
spared for all time the agonies OF
changing price levels
DR.. Meeker SAYS the normal sea-
sonal drop. the low price level for
all commodities combined will come
either in March. April or Nav Of this
year as in normal times. This view
| is not held by Federal Trade Com
missioner William B. Colver. who is a
| member of the government living
cost control committee.
Mr.. CoIver Differs.
Mr. Colver claims that the high lev
| els of prices for 200 articles combined
comes in February of each year and
! that the low level does not come un-
| til August. He claims there is no rea-
| son why prices should not drop appre-
ciably within the next year without
any sort of financial trouble, panic or
| any disturbance and that the action OF
| the government committee in keeping
prices at the level they were in Au-
gust. 1919. is considered a remarkable
achievement. particularly when the
seasonal trend of prices shows a sharp
upward tendency from August to Feb
ruary. reaching its peak in the latter
month.
Having kept prices to their August
level" Mr.. Colver says. there is rea-
| son to believe they will rise. and my
opinion is that they are bound to
drop. Through various influences.
and largely through a steady bearing
down pressure on dealers in food COM
modities throughout the country. by
threat of prosecution and. in some
cases. by prosecution, increases in
| price of food since the committee
| took charge of the situation have been
| kept down."
This having been done through the
| crucial months of November and De-
| cember. when stocks of green fruit
! and vegetables are depleted. l believe
that there cannot but be continued
| drop in food prices between the first
of the year and the middle of the
summer of 1920"