Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-01-19
BARNEY GIVES UP
DAIRY COMMISSIONS SAYS
FIGHT ON n, c. L. IS HOPELESS.
Up to Individual to Economiss, as
Prices Will BE High indefinitely and
Basis-War and Extravasanse Are
Blamed Fer Present Conditions.

Special to Times Republican.
Dies Moines. Jan. lin his report 10
Governor Harding on the high cost of
living Investigations filed today Com
missioner ". b, Barney sums up the
conditions which have brought about
the high prices as follows:
'Ffrst-The drain on the resouc-
g OF the world by long period Of
under production due to war eendi-
tons.
"Sscond--The extravagance OF the
public.
"Third--Tco wide spread between
the price received by the producer
and that paid by the consumer
(a)-IHigh cost of doing business.
(b)--Cumbersome methods OF mark
citing and delivering.
(c)-Profitesring.
REPRESENTATION.
AZ the result OF hts tnvestfga; tons
and observations the commissioner
predicts that prices will never be as
low as they were before the war.
Things will never be as cheap as
they We're before the war" he states.
ITO make them SO the cost Of all raw
materials must come down and labor
must prepare itself to receive lower
wages. Most of the relief to be secur-
ed will come from the education OF the
public, the rest from leg Station"
Extravasanee Running Riot.
Commissioner Barney declares we
are now witnessing time when cX-
travagance IS running riot"
"Old time practices Of economy
wilr DO O big factor in relieving the
situation" he continues. Tho empty
garbage can IN the city and the empty
swin pail In the country helped win
the war and they will help In the bat
tie on tho high cost Of living AS Ions
as we indulge in our present extrav-
agant tastes, it Ill behooves US to
wall sbout the high costs. The wear
tns of half-soled shoes and patched OF
threadbare clothes should rot be con-
aside of half worn clothes IS not the
only foolish thing we do. We buy the
most expensive things we can find 10
replace them
He states that scarcely g. man or
woman buys clothes today without
complaining Of their cost, yet, IL a
casual observer would take note OF
their purchases, he would discover
that. in many cases, they will not even
consider low priced merchan disc.
He says the complaints heard
n ~ ~ foh ~ ~
pArA are as nothing compared to the
dissatisfaction created by food prices.
Finds prof1tesrsn9 hok General.
while there are some instances
where prices Of certain food products
appear 70 b aunwarrantsd, IN general
much Of the criticism 10 Unjust" he
states. Food is dear because It Is
scarce. There Is a world Of shortage.
The war in Europe reduced the pro-
ducdon Of farm products to such an
extent that 1t is doubtful Il European
countries will be able to supply their
own needs for another year at least
I'm other words, large percentage
Of the normal supply Of this country
is being diverted from domestic TO
foreign consumption. While the sup
ply Of food in this country has some
what increased. this increase by no
means equals the normal production
Of the world. Prices in this country
then are simply following the law
Of supply and demand. The demand
greatly exceeds the supply with the
logical result that bidding for the VS.
ible supply Is keen and to the high
est bidder goes the product"
Commissioner Barney concludes
that prices will be lowered only by
reducing consumption. increasing
production and reducing tho quantity
Of money in circulation. Perhaps 1t
might be we'll to qualify this state
ment BY saying that legislation in
tended to bring about a moro equit-
able distribution especially Of food
products, thru the establishment of q
state marketing bureau, would
doubtedly prove Of great benefit to
all concerned"
He declares that surprising inc
qualities Of distribution exist which
might be corrected thru a state mark
citing bureau.