The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1921-08-18
FARMERS URGE
PRICE INVESTIGATION

dIOT Wllllam .. henyOn OF iowa IN
the Senate August 8th, Of q resolu-
ton calling for an investigation Of the
price Of household furnishings, Presi-
dent J. r. Howard Of the American
Farm Bureau Federation issued a
statement showing the relative price
of household furnishings as compared
with the price Of farm crops and other
commodities. President Towards
statement is accompanied by q chart
prepared by q Research Department
Of the farmers national organization
which shows the relative wholesale
prices Of various groups of commodi-
ties by quarters during the years 1918
to 1919 inclusive and by months for
the entire year 1920 and up to June
of this year.
In commenting on the present situ-
alton President Howard says: 1.-THE
prices Of household furnishings are
$50 per cent Of 1918 prices. They are
in a class by themselves, being entire
~ cut out. of line with prices of any
other group. We have endeavored to
make some investigation but with lit
tie success Of the cause Of the price
increase which occurred in the house.
hold group during 1920, which in Oc-
tober reached 371 percent Of 1918
prices. We have attempted to find out
whether any decline is expected. We
in this group but are assured that no
declines r anticipated. We have
heard of strong associations operating
in certain branches of the furniture
industry, Of a trust in the glass indus
try, which dominate the situation, and
Of similar conditions with respect to
other articles included in the house,
hold furnishing group.
"It seems to me that with farm
products 13 per cent above 1918 prices
and furnishings $50 that this is an
appropriate time for an Investigation
by the Federal Trade Commission Of
the household furnishing trade, with
a view Of ascertaining what the ac-
tual conditions are which make possi-
BILE a price condition so out Of line
with tendencies in other lines. Since
1853 per cent Of our people are classed
as rural population and derive their
income from farm production, it be-
comes a matter of vital interest to
them that prices of other commodities
should bear a much closer relation to
the prices of the products which are
a source Of their income.
"The farmer already knows reasons
for the failure Of the prices of some
other commodities to respond to the
deflation process. From a report given
by the Federal Trade Commission he
knows that the failure Of lumber
prices to adjust themselves lumber is
still 202 per cent Of 1913 prices) in
line with farm product prices is due to
the activity Of trade associations OPP
Grating to maintain artifically high
price level by curtailing production or
supply. The Investigation Of Samuel
Untemeyer and others at New York
and Chicago have given additional ex-
plantations of conditions in this indus
try out Of harmony with the public
interest"
The resolution introduced by Sena-
tor Kenyon asks that the Federal
Trade Commission "be authorized and
directed promptly to investigate the
causes Of factory, wholesale and re-
tail price conditions in the principal
branches Of house furnishing goods
industry and trade; to ascertain the
organization and INTERPRETATIONS of
corporations and firms engaged there
in and whether or not there have been
unfair practices-out Of harmony with
the law Of public interest"