The Washington times., 1913-11-27
Bills Before Committee.

Wnen CnalrInan AudrnsoH cdis INC
House Committee on Interstate and
Foreign Commerce together at the be-
ginning of the session next week, that
body will begin consideration of the fol-
lowing bills now before it. which seek
to turn the searchlight on the subject
of high prices:
By McKeller Of Tennessee - Barring
from interstate commerce all food prod
ucts which have been. in storage more
than ninety days.
BY Cary of Wisconsin-Limiting the
time various foodssuffs may be kept In
storage and preventing misbranding and
adulteration.
By Ware of New York-Placing limit
of ten months for the storage of food
products.
By Murdock of Kansas-Providing for
an interstate trade commission, with
power to correct cold storage combina-
ton.
an investigation Of the effect Of concen-
tration of ownership on the cost OF
living question.
Rv Gorman of Illinois-Providing for an
international conference on the cost OF
living question
BY Britten of 1llinois-To investigate
Argentine beef prices.
In addition to this there are a number
of bills pending which relate to the
trust problem in general.
Cold Storage Probe.
without waiting for Congressional ac-
ton, however, Attorney General Nc
REYNOLDS issued orders for a sweeping
investigation of the cold storage prob
lem by special agents of his depart
ment. The investigation centers in New
York and Chicago. At New York Spe-
cal Agent Offley is leading the inves-
tigation with particular reference to
alleged corners in eggs by means OF
which prices have been advanced to
exorbitant figures. In Chicago Special
Agent DeWoody will look into the part
the big packers have played In bringing
about the storage evils complained of.
into the activity of James e. Wetz,
head Of the so-caIled egg trust" wh1
is said to be making profit of Sl,2f9
q car on seventeen carloads or eSgs
bought when the market was low and
held in storage until the price went up.
Already the Department of Justice is
receiving letters from consumers or
ganizations offering assistance in the
campaign. The Egg Club, of Cleveland.
which has been a factor in an anti-high
price campaign in that city, has Of
fered its services, and Special Agent
Clabaugh, at Cincinnati has been in
structed to communicate with its Off
GERS. The Housekeepers' Alliance. OF
Washington, is one of the organizations
of this character, which has expressed
its willingness to cooperate with the
Department of Justice in campaign to
drive down prices.
Hold Little Hope.
Promises of relief from Argentina in
bringing down beef price are discour-
aged by Department of Agriculture Of
ficia's. Following the introduction of
a resolution by Congressman Britten,
who asks why the Navy Department can
purchase Argentine beef cheaper than
the American product.
DIR. A. d. Melvin, chief Of the Bureau
Of Animal Industry, who has just COM
pleted a thorough investigation of the
problem in South America. declares
that Europe draws so largely on South
American beef that America cannot
hope to enhance it's supply from that
source. AT the same tine. he says,
the South American product is dark
from freezing and this is Objectionable
to American consumers.
All these facts bearing on the ex-
cessive cost of foodstuffs and the ex-
pensive dinner table are to he made a
Eart of the dual investigation of the
subject b.; Congress and the Depart
ment OF Justice with the probability
that the Departments of Agriculture
;rd Commerce will eventually be
brought into the investigation.