Evening star., 1922-11-26
PRESIDENT TAKES
Up PLAN FOR WAR
ON PROF|TEER|NC
Senator Watson Urges Leg.
isIative Curb in Interest
of Farmers.
VAST PRODUCTION is
ALLOWED TO WASTE
Prices Not Sufficient, While Con.
sumers Pay Big,
He Says.

Legislation that may lead to re.
duction of the high cost of living is
now being considered by President
Harding.
How to curb profiteering, particu-
larly in food and clothing, is beins
studied by the President and his ad-
visers with a view to urging a def
Der session Of Congress.
Following conferences with other
senators. especially those from the
west Senator Watson. republican. OF
Indiana, was at the White House yes
terday interesting the President in a
legislative program that will meet
the needs and wishes Of the west.
Relief for the farmers from their
financial plight and proposals for
curbing the prof1teers were the chief
topics discussed at the White House
conference.
Foreeful Program Urged.
Picturing to the President how the
farmers are generally unable to get
enough for their crops to pay for
harvesting and shipping. while con-
sumers pay high prices. Senator Wat
son urged the immediate necessity ot
some forceful program to put agri-
culture on its feet and squeeze ou:
the long lire Of profit-taking between
producer and consumer.
Senator Watson's view 10 that any
program Of relief for the farmer must
go further than the questions of
freight rates. interest rates and tariff
rates While these may have a part
in the farmers dilemma, the senator
declared that the man who produces
food and clothing can get very little
for 1t, while the man who needs to
buy it has to pay an unconscionable
high price, Mr.. Watson told the
gram for agricultural credits, but
that he feared it would not strike at
the root Of the question.
II producers were compelled to &C.
cept ruinous prices when they finally
did como to sell cattle and crops
he argued, loans would only be
palliative, and he urged that while
the financial distress Of the farmers
was being temporarily relieved by
liberal credits. an exhaustive study
be undertaken to find some practic-
able means Of bringing producers
and consumers together and elimi-
mating largo profits in between.
study in Other Countries.
Senator Watson also told President
Harding that he already had under
taken a study OF the anti-profiteering
laws of other countries and par
ticularly was examining these which
appeared to be meeting with some
success. So far as his study had
proceeded, the Senator said, he did
not believe price fixing by govern
ment or any other agency would be
successful. but he was inclined rather
to a plan which would expose profits
all along the line and depend upon
an aroused public opinion to grant
reasonable profits to business and at
the same time drive out extortions.
Marking in plain figures the whole
sale prices of articles of food and
clothing transported in interstate
commerce, so that the buyer at retail
may, see what profit he is being asked
to pay to a retailer. is one of the
plans which Senator Watson is ex-
amining. There are several others.
President Harding listened to Sem
ator Watson with deep interest as
the latter pictured potato crops aban-
doned. fruit crops compelled to rot
and grain crops unmoved while farm
ers faced mortgage foreclosures.
Some definite plans are to be dis
cussed with the President later. and
meanwhile. Senator Watson said the
program of agricultural credits and
other measures for temporary relief
would be hastened in Congress