The Holbrook news., 1921-04-22

SHOulu De DdSeU Ou lIle pOllCy Ol pTO-
 lection, resisting that selfishness which
 turns to greed, but ever concerned with
 that productivity at home which is the
 source of all abiding good fortune. It
 is agreed that we cannot sell unless we
 buy, but ability to sell is based on home development and the fostering of home markets. There is little sen
 timent in the trade of the world. Trade
 can and ought to be honorable, but
 it 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 eomplet- ing the peace, commercial agents of
 other nations were opening their lines
 and establishing their outposts with a
 forward look to the mOrrow'S trade.
 It was wholly proper and has been ad-
 vantageous to them. Tardy as 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 is the es-
 tablishment of the governments busi-
 ness on a business basis. There was
 toleration 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 is knowledge of the high cost of government today, and the high cost of living is inseparably linked with high cost of government There can be no complete correction of the high living cost until govern ment's cost is notably reduced.
 Let me most heartily commend the enactment of legislation providing for the national budget system. Congress has already recorded it's belief in the budget. It will be a very great satis- faction to know of it's early enactment, so that it may be employed in estab fishing the economies and business methods so essential to the minimum of expenditure.
 Business Rights Recognized.
 have said to the people we meant to have less of government in business as well as more business in govern ment. It is well to have it understood that business has right to pursue it's normal, legitimate and righteous way unimpeded and it ought have no call to meet government competition where all risk is borne by the public treasury. There is no challenge to honest and lawful business success. But govern ment approval of fortunate. untram- meled business does not mean tolera- tion of restraint of trade or of main- tained prices by unnatural methods. It is well to have legitimate business un- derstand that just government, mind- full of the interests of all the people, has a right to expect the cooperation of that legitimate business in stamping out the practices which add to unrest and inspire restrictive legislation. AnX- ious as we are to restore the onward flow of business, it is fair to combine assurance and warning in one utter ance
 One condition in the business world may well receive your inquiry. Della tion has been in progress but has failed to reach the mark where it 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 Hated, but the cost of bread and meats is not adequately reflected therein. It is to be expected that non-perishable 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 mission for a report of its Observa- tions and its provisions and it's attri- butes, in the main, the failure to ad- just consumers cost to basic produc- ton costs to the exchange of informa- tion 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 tility or haste in accusation of profi- teering, some suitable inquiry by Con- gress might speed the price readjust- ment to normal relationship, with help fitness of both producer and consum- er. A measuring rod of fair prices will SdllSly IllC NOunlIy give us al DuSl- ness revival to end all depression and 
 Rail Rates Must Drop.
 The great interest of both the pro- iucer and consumer-indeed, all our industrial and commercial life, from agriculture to finance-in the problems If transportation will find it's reflex in your concern to aid establishment, o restore efficiency and bring trans )ortation cost into a helpful re- rather than continue it as hindrance to resumed activities.
 It is little to be wondered that ill., considered legislation, the war strain, operation in heedlessness if cost and the conflicting programs, IT the lack of them, for restoration nave brought about a most difficult f made doubly difficult by the i ow tide of business. All are so inti- f nately related that no improvement i will be permanent until the railways f re operated efficiently at a cost with f n that which the traffic can bear. T If we can have it understood that : Congress has no sanction for govern r 1ent ownership, that Congress does not f evy taxes upon the people to cover