Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-18

Chicago. ILL.,, Aug. 1S.-The investi-
CATION into the soaring prices for the
necessities of life, conducted by fed
eral, state and city authorities, who
are bent on lifting the heavy burden
placed on the backs of householders
coincident with the advent of the Eu-
ropean war, went forward with a rush
yesterday.
Chicago, through its position as the
leading market for food supplies, has
become the center of the inquiry, and
the promise was freely mado that if
the facts show any persons III the To-
cal field are guilty of illegal tactics in
boosting prices there will be some Sen
sational trials here.
At a meeting of the municipal mar
kets commission it practically was de-
cided to ask the city council for an
ordinance which will permit prosecu-
ton of those who conspire and COM
bine to force up food costs in order
that undue profits may be gained. The
department of public welfare was
asked to conduct an investigation of
alleged corners and combinations of
Commissioner Young submitted a re-
port showing that liberal stocks of pro-
visions are in the cold storage ware
houses, and it is possible that city
stores, where provisions would be sold
at cost, will be opened.
Alderman James H. Lawley, chair
man of the commission. telegraphed to
Colonel George w. Goethals to learn
1 Oh
kept down to bedrock in the Panama
canal zone. The people who live
there have had the expense of living
kept to a minimum through the oper-
ations of the government.
District Attorney Wilkerson person
ally questioned representatives of the
meat packers, and is preparing list
of witnesses for the grand jury. In
vestigators from the federal building
went through South Water street,
searching for evidence, and field
agents of the department of commlce
and labor have been ordered to hunt
for spectators in foods who seek I'M
due gains in the war situation, and al
so for evidences of combines. Attor-
ney General McReynolds is receiving
a flood of voluntary letters from all
over the country which are of much
assistance
With the idea of clearing themselves
before the public, the retail butchers
and grocers have called a protest
meeting for Thursday in the Hotel La
Sale. when the situation will be
thrashed out in detail. At a meeting
yesterday food spectators were de-
nounced and the prohibition of ex-
ports and the closing of boards of
trade were discussed. 1t was pointed
out by one speaker that the price of
pork loins had been cut cents a
pound since the agitation against price
boosting was begun a week ago.
States Attorney Hoyne has investi-
gators at work ferreting out the facts,
and promises prosecution as soon as
he can get the necessary material.
Federal regulation of food markets
is proposed by the women. who charge
collision among the dealers. In order
to tackle the problem in a direct man.
ner the suffrage shop is offering bar
gain counter prices on several articles.
Butter yesterday was sold there for
81 cents and eggs for 81 Other things
will be added to the list today.
The upward tendency which has
characterized the local markets was
checked for the day There were some
reductions and a small number of ad-
Vances, the situation being referred to
as firm" by the dealers. There was a
sinister tendency toward higher prices. |
however, that told those leading the |
crusade that they must not rest in !
their labors.