The Raymer enterprise., 1921-04-21

maturer revision o1 our tariff laWi
should be based on the policy Of pro
tectien. resisting that selfishness which
turns to greed, but ever concerned with
that productivity At home which d the
source Of al abiding good fortune. Il
b agreed that We cannot sell unless We
buy, but ability to sell d based on
home development and the fosterina
of home markets. There ID little sen.
timent In the trade Of the world. Trade
can and ought to be honorable, but
II knows no sympathy. While the del.
egates Of the nations at war were de-
batting peace terms at Paris and while
We later debated our part In complet
ing the peace, commercial agents Of
other nations were opening their linei
and establishing their outposts with O
forward look to the morrow's trade
It was wholly proper and has been ad
vantageous to them. Tardy ~ we are
It will be safer to hold our own mar
kets secure and build thereon for our
trade With the world.
A very important matter 10 the -
tablishment Of the governments bust
ness on q business basis. There wal
federation Of the easy going, unsystem.
atic method Of handling our fiscal af.
fairs when Indirect taxation held the
public unmindful Of the federal bur'
den. But there 10 knowledge Of the
high cost Of government today. and
the high cost Of living ID inssparably
linked with high cost of government
There can bs no complete correction
Of tho high living cost until govern.
ment's cost ID notably reduced
Let me most heartily commend the
eBactment Of legislation providing foI
the national budget system. Congress
has already recorded its belief In the
budget. It will be a very great salts
faction to know of Its early enactment
70 that It may be employed In estab'
fishing the economies and businesa
methods % essential to the minimum
Of expenditure.
Business Rights Recognised.
I have said to the people we meant
to have less Of government In business
a. well a. more business In govern.
ment. It Is well to have It understood
that business has Z right to pursue it1
normal, legitimate and righteous way
unimpeded and It ought have no call 10
meet government competition where oil
risk 10 borne by the public treasury.
There Ii no challenge to honest and
lawful business success. But govern
ment approval Of fortunate, untrau.
meled business does not mean tolexa,
ton Of restraint Of trade or Of msln.
talned prices by unnatural methods II
10 well to have legitimate business nm.
derstand that a just government, mind.
ful Of the interests Of all the people,
has q right to expect the cooperation
Of that legitimate business In stamping
out the practices which add to unrest
and inspire restrictive legislation. Anx.
ious a. We are to restore the onward
flow Of business, II y fair to combine
assurance and warning in one utter
ance.
One condition In the business world
may well receive your inquiry. Defla.
ton has been In progress but has
failed to reach the mark where 1t can
be proclaimed to the great mass Of
consumers. Reduced cost Of basic
production has been recorded. but high
cost Of living has not yielded In like
proportion. For example, the prices
on grain and livestock have been de-
nated, but the cost Of bread and meats
10 not adequately reelected therein. II
Is to be expected that non.perishabls
staples will be slow In yielding to low.
cred prices, but the maintained retail
costs In perishable foods cannot be
justified. .
! have asked the Federal Trade Com.
for a report Of Its observa-
tons and It's provisions and Its attri.
butes, In the main. the failure to ad.
just consumers cost to basic produc-
ton costs to the exchange Of informa-
ton by open price associations which
operate, evidently within the law, to the
very great advantage Of their members
and equal disadvantage to the consum-
ing public. Without the spirit Of hos
tillty or haste In accusation Of prof.
teering, some suitable inquiry by Con-
gress might speed the price readJust-
ment to normal relationship, with help
fulness Of both producer and consum.
er. A measuring rod Of fair prices will
satisfy the country and give us bust.
ness revival to end all depression and
Rail Rates Must Drop.
The great interest Of both the pro.
ducer and onsumer--indeed, all our
Industrial and commercial life, from
agriculture to nnance-in the problems
Of transportation will find Its reflex in
your concern to aid re-establishment.
to restore efficiency and bring trans
portation cost into a helpful re-
latlonship rather than continue It a.
a hindrance to resumed activities.
It Is little to be wondered that I'D.
legislation, the war strain,
government operation In heedlessness
AZ cOat and th0 conflicting nroOro ma