Pueblo chieftain., 1921-04-13

perity and maintained American
standards of wage and living, can
have no sympathy with the proposal
that easy entry and the flood OF I'M
ports will cheaper our costs OF nv
ing. 1t Is more likely to destroy our
capacity to buy. Today American
agriculture is menaced and its prod
ucts are down to pre-war normals.
yet We arc endangcring our funds
mental industry thru the high cost OF
transportation from farm to market
and thru the influx of foreign farm
products because wc offer. essential
iy unprotected. tho best market In
the world. It would be, better to
err in protecting our basic food In
dustry than paralyze our farm acti-
vities in the world struggle for re-
stored exchanges.
The maturcr revision Of our tariff
laws should be based on tho policy OF
plain Justice. resisting that selfish
ness which turns to greed but ever
homo which "a the source of all ahid-
ing good fortune. 1t is agreed that
Ne cannot sell unless VIC buy. but
ability to sell Is based on home dew
elopment and the fostering of homo
markets. There is little sentiment in
tho trade Of tho world. Trade can
and ought to be honorable but 1t
knows no sympathy. While the
delegations OF the nation were at
war, debating peace tcrms at Paris.
and while We later debated our part
in completing tho peace. commercial
agents of other nations were opening
their lines and establishing their
morrow's trade. 1t was wholly
proper aud has been advantageous to
them. Tardy IA VIC arc It will be
safer to hold our own markets secure
and build. thereon. for our own trade
with the world.
establishment OF tho governments
business on business basis-there
was liberation of tho easy going, un-
systematic method of handling our
fiscal affairs where Indirect taxation
held tho public unmindful of tho fed
eral burden. But there is knowledge
of tho high cost OF tho government
today and high cost of living is insep-
arably linked with hiEh cost of gov
ernmcnt There can be no complete
correction of the high living cost un-
til governments cost is notably rc-
duced.
National Budget System
let me most. heartily commend
tho enactment OF legislation rrovid-
ing for the national budget system.
TSCoTuVu ItS DV-
lief In the budget It will be very
great satisfaction to know of its
carly enactment. 40 that 1t may he
employed in establishing the econ
omics and business methods so c<scn-
tial to the minimum of expenditure.
Il have said to tho people that
wc meant to havc lces of governmcn MT
In government II Is we'll TO have II
understood that business has right
TO pursue It's normal. legitimate and
righteous way unimpcdcd and II
ought have no call to mcrt govern
ment competition where all riek In
borne by the public treasury. There
10 no challenge to honest and lawful
business success. But government
approval Of fortunate. untrammeiled
husaneN does not mean federation of
reHtraint OF trade or of maintained
prices by unnatural methods. II II
we'll to have legitimate business
understand that Just govern
mcnt. mindful OF the interests Of all
| the people. has a right TO expect tho
cooperation OF that legitimate bust
ness in stamping out the practices
| which add To unrest and inspire re-
strictivc legislation. Anxious as we
arc to restore the onward flow OF
business. It In fair to combine asrur-
ance and warning in ono utterancc.
''One condition in the business
| world may well receive your inquiry.
Dcflauon has been in progress but
has failed to reach tho mark where II
can bc proclaimed TO tho great mas
CT consumers. Reduced coa OF basic
production has been recorded. but
high cost OF living has not yielded in
like proportion. For example. the
prices on grains and livestock have
been Debated but tho cost Of bread
and meats "a not adequately reflected
l.
nom pcrtshable staples will he slow
In yielding to lower prices. bu. the
maintained rctAIl costs in pcrishablc
foods cannot be justified.
II have asked she federal trade
commission for a report of its observa-
tons and its attributes. in tho main tho
failure tn adjust consumer costs to
, basic production costs TO the exchange
OF Information by open price associa-
tions' which operate. evidently. within
the law to tho very great advantage
OF their mcmbcrs and equal disadvant-
age TO tho consuming public. Without
tho spirit of hostility or haste in ac-
cusation OF profitccrinE. some suitable
inquiry by congress might speed the
prico readjustmcnt to normal relation
ship. with helpfulness TO both producer
and consumer. A measuring rod of
fair prices will satisfy the country and
give US a business revival and end ali
depression and unemployment
Transportation Problems
The great interest OF both producer
and consumer.-indecd all our indus
trial and commercial life. from agri-
culture to finsncc-in tho problems OF
transportation, will find its reflex in
your concern to aid rc-cstablishmcnt.
to restore efficiency and bring trans
portation cost into a helpful relation
ship rather than continue 1t as a hind
rance to resumed activities
1T Is little TO be wondered that III
considered legislation. tho war strain.
government operation in hcedlcssncss
OF cost and tho conflicting programs.
or tho lack of them, for restoration.
have brought about a most difficult
situation. made doubIy difficult by tho
low tide of business. All are 40 init
matcly related that no improvement
will be permanent until tho railways
arc operated efficiently at cost with
tftH hat ~ l~k,