The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-09-16

The Department OF Justice today took
a hand in the investigation Of the
alleged combine in restraint OF trade 10
TX the price OF milk in the District OF
Columbia.
Special Agent Charles Connor, Who
Won the title Of Trust Buster Con
nor, through his connection With the
fight against the alleged Laundry trust.
spent the morning at the Office OF
United States District Attorney Clarence
Wilson in search OF Information gar
nered in Mr.. Wilson'S office.
The presence Of Special Agent Con
nor was taken as an Indication that the
course OF the Maryland and Virginia
farmers, in raising the wholesale price
OF milk and cream. would come under
legal scrutiny as weH as any action the
Washington retailers may take at their
meeting tonight. when they are slated
to boost the retail price TO 70 cents a
quart
Gathering In the Facts
While the Department OF Justice
agent is probing conditions among the
producers, United States District At
torney Wilson is gathering facts about
the District Retailers Association
ANY action taken tonight toward an
agreement 10 raise the price Of milk
may be followed promptly BY indict-
ments of local milk dealers
'.Thesfrst step toward reaching g,
agreement that viii hL the price OF
milk in this city viii be followed by
probe ~ ascertain whether such
an agTeeC5Sut is in violation OF the
statute which prohibits combines ii
restraint Of trade" Mr. Wilson SAID
today.
''Our hands are tied so far since
this Office has no jurisdiction Over
The Maryland and Virginia farmers
who fix the wholesale price Of milk
But We are interested in what any
dealers in the District may DO and
We are keeping a watchful eye on
their movements"
Independent Investigations
Mr Wilson said that whatever action
the Department Of Justice was taking
was independent Of the investigation
at his Office The fact that the Milk
Producers Association numbered amonS
its members farmers from Maryland
and Virginia as well as from the District
brings them in the scope OF the inter
state laws relating 20 combines, It vas
stated.
one significant fact cropped out in the
investigation today The executive COM
mittee of the Producers Association.
according to an unwrftten law OF that
body. comprises at least one reprtserta-
tive from every county represented and
one or more from the District
Yesterday this custom was followed
to the letter in the cases or Maryland
and Virginia. and the committee was
really enlarged by the appointment or
two Representatives from i've Of the
Virginia counties But the District Of
Columbia failed to land one repressn-
tative on the governing body OF the pro
ducers
Whether this striking omission was
the result OF an fnSdvertence o. a de-
liberate attempt 10 escape jurisdiction
OF the District Attorneys Office = one
question that Il causing the investiga-
tors some concern The District had 2
goodly number OF representatives pres
ent at the meeting
Await Action Of Dealers
Mr.. Connor declined to discuss the
status Of the Departments investiga-
ton. intiEnating that further steps
hinged on the aotion of the dealers
association tonight
II was also intinated that the scope
OF the term 'sgreement' might play
a prominent part in any defense the
milk dealers might put up In a state
ment given out today by ". r Fart
ranft. president Of that body the ex-
ecutive denied that any agreement was
proposed BY the dealers, but that the
IL the nature Of a recommendation
based upon an equitable retail price
as compared with the wholesale in
crease
Prices Of Last Winter.
Another Development at the meeting
yesterday which was remarked upon at
the District Attorneys office vas the
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