Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1921-04-15

damental industry through the high
cost of transportation from farm 10
market and through the influx of for
eign farm products because we offer
essentially unprotected, the best mar
ket in the world.
1t would be better to err in protect
ing our basic food industry than para
lyze our farm activities in the world
struggle for restored exchanges. The
maturer revision of our tariff laws
should be based on the policy of pro-
lection, resisting that selfishness
which turns to greed, but ever con-
cerned with that productivity at home
which Is the source of all abiding good
fortune.
To Sell and Buy.
1t is agreed that we cannot sell UNI
less 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 1t
knows no sympathy. While the dele
gates of the nations at war were de-
batting 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 Il forward look to the NOR
rows trade. 1t was wholly proper and
has been advantageous to them. Tardy
as we are, ii will be safer to hold our
own markets secure and build thereon
for our trade with the world.
A very important matter Is the es-
Establishment of the governments bust
ness on business basis. There was
liberation and the easy going, unsys-
tematic method of handling our fiscal
affairs 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 linked
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
so that it may be employed in estab
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
as well as more business In govern
ment. 1t is well to have 1t understood
that business has right to pursue its
normal, legitimate and righteous way
unimpeded and ii ought have no call to
meet government competition where all
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. 1t
it 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-
lOus as we are to restore the onward
flow of business, ii is fair to combine
assurance and warning in one utter
ance.
one condition in the business world
may we'll 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 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 dc.
flated, but the cost of butter and meats
Is not actually frflected therein. 1t is
20 he expected that nOnperishable sta.
| pies will be slow in yielding TO low.
cred prices, but the maintained retail
costs in perishable foods cannot be
justified.
Cause of Trouble.
| have asked the federal trade com
mission for report on its observations
and it attributes in the main the fail
ure to adjust consumers cost to basic
production costs to the exchange of
information by "open price associa-
tons" which operate, evidently within
the law, to the very great advantage
of their members and equal dsadvan-
tage to the consuming public.
Without the spirit of hostility or
haste in accusation of profiteering,
some suitable inquiry by congress
might speed the price REIMBURSEMENT TO
normal relationship, with helpfulness
Of both producer and consumer. A
measuring rod of fair prices will salts
fy the country and give us u business
revival to end all depression and un-
employment
Rail Problem.
The great interest of both the pro-
Queer and cOnsumer-indeed, all our
industrial and commercial life from
agriculture 10 finance--in the problems
of transportation will find Its reflex
I'm your concern 10 aid re-estahliSh-
ment, To restore efficiency and bring
transportation cost into n helpful re-
latiOnShip rather than continue it us
hindrance to resumed activities.
II is little to be wondered that Ill
considered legislation, the war strain,
government operation in heedleSSneSs
q a IL. - -