South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-18

The general price trend continues
upward, despite the renewed vigor
with which the government is prose
cutting rs campaign Dun's list FOR
the week ended january 9 showed
80 revisions upward out o. total
IS. Bradstreets general index num-
Der increased nine-tenths per cent
during December. while the food in
dex number advanced 90 the highest
point on record shortly after the
new year
Specific commodities like steel
and iron are straining upward. The
textile and finished clothing market
are strong with prices tending 20 ad
vance. Crude oil has advanced
quite generally Building materials
ARE favored By the acuts shortage Of
housing and incline constantly to-
ward higher levels. Coal prices are
climbing slowly. due 10 the various
causes Copper quotes &c higher
than two months ago Hides and
leather turned somewhat firmer at
ter sOftening. Freight rates viii
lump a notch or two upon return OF
the railroads 20 private hands. And
even interest rates. which have long
spprOximGted six per cent. holding
their level with great tenacity in the
face OF war conditions. are stihening.
The government campaign. while
exercising a repress.ve influence. is
utterly unable to stem the tide It's
greater value will be educational
and It's direct immediate results con
fined largely 20 prohteering. which
fearless prosecutions will curb in
some degree.
Nevertheless, a good many com
meutators admit the possibility Of a
moderate price decline, at least in
ZONE direction. during the present
year. The greatest progress has
been made 30 far i'm the steps taken
20 reduce imitation. Substantial
benefit may attend the extension Of
Federal Reserve board control thru
interest rates 90 various commodit-
les and real estate. in which specula-
ton has been rife. The Boards re-
cause OF high prices Money that
would have been used for specula-
ton In the stock market or to carry
boarded stocks OF raw materials
must increasingly seek channels that
will increase production
Another point Of attack should be
government expenditures, both
through adoption Of a budget sys-
tenn and through party policy Ma
jority Leader MOndell declares that
81 .25O.OOO.OOO should be out from
government estimates for the year
1920 This drastic reduction could
not be without effect upon prices,
even were IT chiefly sentimental
- Positive gain may 1sult from con
Voe~ted action go check eXtravagant
buying. and especially from efforts
now projected by the women. under
Attorney General Palmer's direction:
hut only il the movement is general
and well sustained. As vet retailers
stocked mp with high-priced goods
be'ray few symptoms Of alarm.
An even more significant move i'm
the campaign against high prices is
the decision OF organized labor to
enter the field OF cooperative manu-
lacture and distribution. To paral-
iels the farmers cooperative move
weut I'm Grest Britain Co-opera-
rive buying and distribution alone.
IL conducted on % large scale. should
do much for the workmen providing
the en- -Onarrtors 9ie.r,ar.ro tfc-,
business functions efficiently The re-
puted saving may De found uIusorv.
Attorney-General Palmer himself
sees no promise Of immediate re-
ductlou i'm food prices as result of
the dissolution affecting the packers