Photograph from Food Administration 



WASHINGTON FIREMAN CANNING HIS CORN CROP 



Many of the fire-fighters in the nation's capital did their bit this past summer by raising 

 produce on vacant lots adjacent to the fire stations. This patriotic fireman harvested his 

 crop and carried it to the nearest community canning center, where he donned a gingham 

 apron, rolled up his sleeves, and "put up" his winter's stock of this delectable food. 



ultimately wash away the very founda- 

 tions of production and distribution. 



Of European experience in price-fix- 

 ing practically but one formula has re- 

 mained, and that is the fixed specified 

 price for every stage of a given commod- 

 ity, from its raw to its finished delivered 

 state, based as nearly as may be on the 

 cost of production and reasonable return 

 on capital. 



We will find, as we go on with the war 

 and its increasing economic disruption, 

 that first one commodity after another 

 will need be taken into control. We will, 

 however, profit by experience if we lay 

 down no hard and fast rules, but if we 

 deal with every situation on its merits. 



So long as demand and supply have 

 free play in a commodity, we had best 

 leave it alone. Our repairs to the break 

 in normal economic control in other com- 

 modities must be designed to repair the 

 break, not with a view to setting up new 

 economic systems or theories. 



PRICF-FIXING AND PRODUCTION 



It appears to me we can divide our 

 commodities roughly into four classes : 



First. Those commodities of which we 

 produce our own supply and for which 

 there is no export or import business of 

 such consequence as to influence the 

 whole, such as corn, potatoes, onions, 

 apples, and many others. Here the law 

 of demand and supply still reigns, and 

 we can well leave them alone, provided 

 no person or persons attempt to upset 

 the normal flow of barter, and then we 

 Can best deal with the person. 



Second. Those commodities the export 

 demand for which dominates the price. 

 Here it is possible as a first step to regu- 

 late the export price. In such a class I 

 may mention wheat and flour. 



Nor have we much choice as to the 

 matter of these commodities, for under 

 the agreements between our government 

 and the Allies our government must pur'- 



