The Washington times., 1912-06-03

CHICAGO PACKERS
MUST GIVE DATA
4 ON HIGH PRICES
Three Distinct Attacks on
Food Trusts Are Now
Planned.

Federal machinery for three distinct
attacks upon the Beef trust" was set
In motion today, with a complete ex-
pose of the high cost OF living the
united goal
Two House committees the De-
partment of Justice are whetting their
barbs to assault the meat packers, the
opening skirmish being scheduled to-
morrow, when the House Judiciary
Committee will consider the resolution
Of Congressman Edwards Of Georgia
to probe the recent raise In meat prices.
Chairman Clayton said today the In
quiry will probably be ordered and con-
Quoted by his committee. summoning
the beef barons" recently acquitted by
q Federal jury at Chicago. ..
May File Civil Suit.
Tomorrow also Attorney General
wickersham will hold a conference
with District Attorney Wilkerson, of
Chicago. to consider fling a civil suit
against the trust"
The other attack upon the packers
is that of the Moss committee OF the
House, threatening Investigation of
the meat inspection service. This
will collaterally involve the packers,
by their alleged sale OF diseased meat.
CoincideDt with the Federal inves-
LEGATIONS launched today. the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor has is-
sued a bulletin showing how prices
of food have risen from 25 to 100 per
cent in the last ten years.
ALI Prices Go Up.
Poultry is UP one-third, eggs jumped
from IL to 81 cents a dozen, the de-
partment reports; potatoes have risen
from 40 to SO cents a bushel; beef
has gone UP from z to 10 cents a
pound.
Average wholesale prices of 257
commodities" the department says,
have risen II per cent since 1900"
An amendment to the Sherman law is
expected as one of the results of the
searching Investigation Of the Beef
trust. which will be instituted immedi-
ately by the House Committee on
Judiciary. The Beef trust investiga-
ton proper will concern the corner
Ing Of the meat supply by the
large packers and the manipulation of
prices Irrespective of the law of supply
and demand. Underneath the inquiry,
however, the Judiciary Committee has a
plan to report an amendment to the
Sherman law If such is found neces-
sary. ~ -
Congressman Edwards, whose resolu-
ton followed the publication in The
Times of an editorial asking Congress
sional inquiry into the Beef trust, Is
preparing today to appear before the
judiciary Committee and map out a
Plan OF campaign against the meat men.
@ Can Begin At Once.
As published in The Times yesterday.
aSconference between Chairman Henry
Of the Rules Committee and Chairman
Clayton of the Judiciary Committee, re-
suited in a decision that no additional
authority is needed by the judiciary
Committee, and 1t Is empowered to be-
gin at once its probe Of the Beef trust
and the increasing cost of meat.
Chairman Clayton gays the probe of
the Judiciary Committee will go deop,
and that the most noted beef barons OF
the country will be among the witnesses
hailed before the committee. The names
of the witnesses to be called probably
Will DC made p"blic after the initial ap-
pcarance before the committee of Con-
gressman Edwards. whose resolution,
together with The Times editorial. rivet-
ed the attention of Congress upon the
cat monopoly and its defiant atti-
tude.