Evening star., 1914-08-15
.COMPLETEPLANS
FOR PRICE PROBE
Government Agents Busy or
High Cost Of Living In
vestigation.
BEET SUGAR CROP HELD
UP SOMEWHERE IN WEST
Efforts to Obtain Comparisons Of
Food Costs From Labor Statis-
tics Bureau Futile.

Strengthening it's forces here ant
there to stop up any leaks overlooked
when the rush was made, the govern
ment agents spent today in complet-
ing details of the investigation to de-
termine who are responsible for the
high prices Of table necessities and
who are blaming it on the war situa-
tion in Europe. Here and there came
reports from the various agents who
have gone hurriedly about their in
vestigations, telling of some new dis
covery which has furnished a line OF
probing which they will follow. The
most important of these today was
considered to be one that the sugar
beet crop from the west, which should
now be on the market, has not yet ar
rived, and is being held up somewhere
along the line.
The grand jury investigation which
was started in this city yesterday
under the direction of District Attor-
ney- Wilson was continued over from
yesterday until Monday. The witnesses
who were summoned for yesterday had
not completed their examinations when
the grand jury adjourned.
kilograms and letters continue to
pour into the Department of Justice
cations. but the department is with
holding the publication of any of the
messages at this time. The informa-
tion concerning the holding up of this
years beet sugar crop came to the
Department of Justice from one of
its agents, but the officials there de-
cided that it would be unwise to make
public the exact source.
Probes in Every State.
The reports, however. show that the in
vestigation into the food prices Is pro-
crossing In every state and almost every
large city. The United States attorney at
San Francisco telegraphed that the in
vestigation already has prevented an in
crease in shipping rates to foreign ports
on canned goods.
William J. Youngs, district attorney at
Brooklyn, telegraphed that he had issued
subpoenaes for a grand jury which VIII
meet Wednesday. Other district attor-
neys asked for special agents to supple
ment their own efforts. The district at
torney at Baltimore wants three special
agents. because Of the imitation of prices
there. The Department OF Justice Is gath
ering comparisons Of food prices on July
!. 1913; July l. 1914; the prices before the
declaration Of war in Europe and the
present prices in this country.
After spreading. broadcast to- his
agents the telegram of instructions con-
cerntng the high cost of Nvlng investi-
CATION. Secretary Redfeid OF the De-
in New England. He. however, left spe-
cffic instructions that he be kept in con-
slant touch with the reports that come
in.
Detailed Instructions Mailed.
From the bureau Of foreign and
domestic commerce there went out by
mail this morning the detailed instruc-
tions. concerning the investigation. and
they are declared to cover the minutest
detail, and the Investigators will be ex-
pected to follow them closely. The Off
cials at the department refused to make
public either a whole or part of the
instructions, declaring 1t would not be
wise at this time for the government
to show its hand. in any part OF the
Investigation.
Efforts made this morning to obtain
figures from the bureau OF labor statis-
tics of the Department of Labor show
ing comparisons Of food prices within
the last two months were futile. The
June and July figures have not been
they are printed in the pamphlet COW
ering a period Of six months"
The agents Of the bureau-that is, the
merchants who make the monthly re-
q
these figures will not be available for
several months, at time when they
will be of little use. The officials said
they could not help it; that they could
not give them out until printed, and
they are printed only for six-month
periods.
Chicago Grand Jury to Act.
CHICAGO. August 15.-The federal
grand jury now sitting will be the
medium for the Chicago inquiry into
war time prices. according to a state
ment made by District Attorney Will
kerson. who returned from his vaca-
ton today.
To-day" said Mr. Wilkerson, 81
shall confer with agents of the De-
partment of Justice to learn what they
have ascertained. Further Information
will be gained by summoning mer-
chants and dealers in foodstuffs before
the grand jury next Monday. First, we
must ascertain the true causes of the
advances in prices"
Cut meats at wholesale were un-
changed today. but the packers said the
tone was easier.