The Washington herald., 1913-11-27
NQUIRYINTOHIGH
PRICESISSTARTED
Attorney General Orders Of
fcials to Look Into Food
Situation.
ATTACK ON DEMOCRATS
Representative Austin Would Aseer-
tain Reason for Failure of Tariff
Law to Reduce Cost of Living"

The Democratic administration and the
party leaders in Congress are becoming
alarmed over the cries that come from
the country againSt the increased cost OF
living. and machinery in both branches
of the government is to be set in motion
to ascertain the cause and to apply RENE
dies. if possible. Cognizance of the situa-
ton was taken by Attorney General Nc
Reynolds yesterday, when he instructed
Department of Justice officials in the
States to make an inquiry into the food
situation, and to report whether the cold
storage plants are responsible.
At the same time an attack on the DEM
ocratic tariff bill was made in the House
by Representative Austin, of Tennessee
Republican, who charged that the law
had failed to reduce living costs in ac-
cordance with the platform promises of
the party now in power. Mr. Austin pre-
sented resolution providing for the ap-
pointment of a special committee to as
certain ''the reasons for the palpable
failure of the Underwood-Simmons tariff
law to reduce the cost of living
Following the Austin demonstration, a
resolution was introduced by Representa-
tive Britten. of Illinois. a Republican,
providing for a worldwide inquiry into
the causes for the high cost of living
such as was recommended to Congress by
President Taft in the closing days of the
preceding administration. The resolution
authorizes the President to invite the
powers to join in a conference to deter
mine the cause for the high-price trend.
Directed to Storage Plants.
The investigation authorized by At
torney General McReynolds is directed
in the main toward the managers of
cold storage plants. The charge has
egg prices was due to manipulation of
the product in cold storage, and it is
charged further that the same system
is in operation as to other food products
If evidence is obtained that cold storage
combines are managed in restraint of
trade it is known that prosecutions will
be instituted.
The Austin resolution directs that
the Speaker of the House be authorized
to appoint committee of ten members
TO investigate the reasons for the pal
pable failure of the Underwood Simmons
tariff law to fulfill the promises of the
Democratic party to reduce the cost of
living, and to extend an apology to the
Republican party and the American peo-
pie whose votes established President
Wilson's so-called new freedom"
The Britton resolution recalls that
the Navy Department recently made con-
tracts for 4O5,0O0 pounds of Australian
and Argentine beef, bought in open COM
petition and at prices below those quoted
by American packers. THE prices of
meats of all kinds have so advanced as
10 be practically prOhibitive to the ma
Jortty of American workingmen," saws
the resolution. which directs the House
Judiciary Committee to ascertain whether
''any effort is being made by the beef
trust TO control the Australian and
Argentine markets"
MckeIInr Sees McReynoIds.
Representative McKellar. of Tennessee
who has introduced bill prohibiting the
holding Of food products in cold storage
beyond a period of ninety days. yester-
day had a conference with Attorney Cen
eral McReynolds. Assurances were given
by the Attorney General that his depart
ment will aid any investigation that may
be undertaken by Congress into the cost
of living. The MckeIIar bill, which is
pending in the House Interstate Com
merce Committee, will be used as an
excuse to probe the operations of the
cold storage plants. Reports made to the
Department of Justice in the latter will
be turned over to the House committee
unless it should be decided that such a |
course might later prove prejudicial in
suits brought under the antitrust act. |
Mr.. McKellar told the Attorney General
that in his opinion it would be easy to |
obtain evidence showing that Chicago
packers use cold storage plants to con- |
troll prices.
Sentiment is growing among Democrats
in the House for special inquiry into |
the cost of living. 1t is argued that a |
special committee should be created