FOOD CONTROL IN GERMANY 155 



natural monopolies. In consequence the food sup- 

 ply of the nation moves freely in response to the 

 needs of the people. The only middleman is the 

 government itself. 



It is now proposed that the Federal Government 

 create an even more elaborate system of regulation 

 of price-fixing, etc. But such a programme would 

 require an army of men to regulate the food sup- 

 ply of 100,000,000 people. And cost far more to 

 provide such regulation than would pay interest 

 on the property of the packers, of cold-storage and 

 terminal warehouses all over the country. If these 

 agencies were owned by the public they would be 

 self-supporting just as they are to-day. They would 

 cost the government nothing to maintain. Then 

 they would be open and public. Conspiracies would 

 be veiy difficult as would the forestalling of food to 

 increase the price artificially. If every farmer, 

 jobber, and retailer could place his own food in 

 storage the law of demand and supply would regu- 

 late prices all through the year, just as it does for 

 non-perishable stuff, such as clothing, furniture, 

 watches, automobiles, etc. But what is far more im- 

 portant, with these agencies in public hands produc- 

 tion would be encouraged. Facilities would be offered 

 to market local produce. There would be an end 

 to the conflict which now prevails between the rail- 

 roads and the local farmer. And this conflict is far 

 more costly than speculation. It discourages agri- 



