Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-24
PRICE BOOSTERS
FACE INDICTMENT
Justice Department Hourly Ex-
pecting Reports From
Grand Juries.
INVESTIGATION is ON
IN ALL PARTS OF u. S.
New Method Suggested by Western
Attorney-No Report Received
by President,

With reports Of the advancing prices
pouring into tho Department. % Justice.
officials there are now confident That
within the next few day~ wiz come the
announcement that federal grand turies
have found indictments In several cities
for the fixing Of food prices on tho aimsS
pretext that the war In Europe Is re-
spous.bie However, the department Of
ncials profess to be without any definite
information as to Just what the grand
iuries working on the high cost Of LIVING
question have before them.
To Proceed Vigorously.
President Wilson has not yet received
a compete report of the results Of the
investigat ton OF the Department of
Justice as 10 the rise IN food prices since
the European war began. He declared
today. however, that the Information so
far in hand is sufficient to Indicate that
combinations have been made to raise
prices without good reasons Tor SO
ooing and that the government Is eN-
pected to proceed against these comhlna-
tons The administration expects 10
push the cases vigorously against those
believed to be guilty of putting up food
prices.
To Use Fraud Laws.
A new method of proceeding against
the price boosters was suggested to the
Department of Justice today by United
States attorney in the west He informed
the department that he proposes to ask
the grand jury to indict certain whole
sale houses under section 2i5 of the
penal code. alleging that they have de-
yised a scheme to defraud the public
NV hat & "A
sugar, flour. etc. and therefore attempt
ing to control prices of those commod-
tiles by the use of the mails
From Illinois come the following de-
auctions as to the reasons for high
prices: A United States attorney there
says that he is satisfied that the ad-
vanced prices are due TO the manipuia-
ton of the monopoistic industries which,
through their interlocking and intercom-
municating methods of corporate organ
ization, have the consumer at their
merry and are levying unreasonably
high profits and getting unwarranted
profits He asks for the ASST gnment of
a lew special agents to assist him in
further investigation
Advice From Sherman.
That houseSeepers organized into
community leagues for the purpose
OF acquiring commodities at wholesale
prices should not attempt to buy
meats. other than fish, by this method,
was the advice offered today by john
II. Sherman. District superintendent of
weights. measures and markets. al the
fourth of the consumers meetings to
he held at the District building in the
interest of reducing the high cost of
living
Mr.. sherman pointed out the difficulty
that would be encountered by league
IN cutting up a wholesale meat order so
that the members would receive the
exact amounts ordered. He advised the
clubs to confine their purchases to fish
and other marine products and such
commodities as are placed on sale by
farmers at the Haskell produce mar
ket. between 10Th and 18th streets + and
Little streets northwest
Consumers Ask Questions
Todays meeting. which was held in
Supt. Shermans office, developed into
conference, in which practically every
consumer present participated. Many
questions were asked as to the best
method of organizing leagues and buying
and distributing products.
Supt. Sherman today issued an official
statement setting forth the attitude OF
his office N the pdesent hish-priced- food
crisis. II explains that the community
league plan is not directed against the
retailer. but is intended only to afford
temporary relief.