The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1921-04-14

damental industry through the h,gh
cost of transportation from farm to
market and through the influx of for.
elgn farm products. because we orfer
essentially unprotected. the best mar.
ket In the world.
IL would be better 10 err In nrotact-
ing our basic food industry than nara
| rye our tarm activities i'm the world
struggle Tor restored exchanges. The
maturer revision of our tariff laws
should be based on the policy of pro.
tectlon, resisting that splfishness
winch turns to greed. but ever con.
cerned with that productivity at home
which Is the source OF all abiding good
fortune. 7V'
To Sell and Buy
Ut Is agreed that we cannot sell nm
less we buy, but ability To sell is based
on home development and the fostering
OF home markets. There Is little sen.
tlmeht IN the trade of the world. Trade
can ANA ought to be honorable. but il
KNOWS no sympathy. While the dele
gates of the nations at war were de-
Dutlng peace terms at Paris. and
while we later debated our part in
completing the peace, commercial
agents OF other nations were opening
their lines and establishing their out
posts with II forward look tn the NOR
rows trade. II was wholly proper and
mas Deen advantageous to them. Tardy
as we are, IT will he safer to hold our
own markets secure and build thereon
Tor our trade with the world
very important matter is the es.
Establishment of the governments bust
ness on II business basis. There was
federation and the easy going. unsys-
teDatic method Of handling our fiscal
aitnirs when Indirect taxation held the
public unmindful of the federal burden.
But there is knowledge of the high
cost of government today, and the high
cost of living is inSeparably linket
with high cost of government. There
can he no complete correction of the
high living cost until governments cost
Is notably reduced.
Budget System.
Let me most heartily commend the
enactment of legislation providing for
the national budget system Congress
has already recorded its belief In the
budget. 1t Will be very great salts
faction to know of its early enactment.
80 that IL may he employed in eStnb-
fishing the economies and business
methods so essential to the minimum
of expenditure.
! have said to the people we meant
to have less Of government In business
rs well as more business in govern
ment. II Is well to have IL understood
that business has Il right Ia pursue its
normal. legitimate and righteous way
unimpeded and II ought have no call TO
meet government competition where I'LL
risk Is borne by the public treasury.
Reducing Costs.
There Is no challenge to honest and
| lawful business success. But govern
ment approval of fortunate, untram.
meled business does not mean tOlera-
ton of restraint of trade or of main.
tanned prices by unnatural methods. II
1t well to have legitimate business I'M
derstand that just government, mind
full of the interests of all the people
has right to expect the cooperation
of that legitimate business in stamping
out the practices which add to unrest
and inspire restrictive legislation. AnX
]
! flow OF business. II Is fair to cOmbin,
assurance ana warning In one utter
ance.
one condition I'm the business world
may well receive your inquiry. Della
ton has been in progress, but has
failed to reach the mark where IL can
be proclaimed to the great mass OF
consumers. Reduced cost of basic pro
ductiOn has been recorded. but high
cost of living has not yielded In like
proportion For example, the prices
on grain and livestock have been tie
! flated. but the cost of butter and meats
| Is not actually reflected therein. II is
10 be expected that nonperishable sta
plies will be slow I'm yielding To low
cred prices, but the maintained retail
costs in perlshable foods cannot be
justified.
Cause Of Trouble.
l have asked the federal trade com
mission for report on its observations
and II attributes In the main the fail
ure To adjust consumers cost Ia basic
production costs To the exchange OF
| information by "Open price aSSOcla-
! tions." which operate. evidently within
| the law, tO the very great advantage
of their members and equal dlsadvan-
| tnge to the consuming public.
Without the spirit Of hostility or
! haste in accusation Of prOfilecring,
some suitable inquiry by congress
might speed the price REIMBURSEMENT to
normal relationship, with helpfuness
of both producer and consumer \
measuring rod of fair prices will salts
fy the country and give us business
revival to end all depression ana I'M
| employment
Rail Problem.
The great interest of both the pro-
Queer and cOnsumer-indeed. all our
Industrial and commercial life from
agriculture To flnance-ln the problems
of transportation will find It's reflex
In your concern to aid re-establish-
ment, 10 restore efficiency and bring
transportation cost into helpful re-
latiOnship rather than continue II as
hindrance to resumed activities.
II as lt-Ie to be wondered that Ill
- a. In