Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-08-14
DEPARTMENT. or COMMERCE
STARTS LARGE FORCE ON
FOOD INVESTIGATION.
FACTS FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
FORTHCOMING IN WEEK
Special Attention 70 BE Given 70 Spse.
ulativs Dealing. and Effect on val..
uss Of Foodstuffs-Assnts 70 lnvssti-
gate Stocks on Hand and Effect q
War on Prices.


ment Of an effort to have closed
all ports Of trade and othsr ma.
chinery by means Of which spec.
ried on was made here today BY
Sol Westerfeld. chairman Of the
trade relations committee OF the
National Association OF Retail
Grocers.
"a am taking the initiative IN
this matter by writing 60 z. D.
Connolly, Of San Francisco, prssi.
dent Of the national association,
and members Of the executive
board" said Mr.. Wsstsrfsld.
"Members Of the board are scat
tered about the country, and die.
cussion by correspondence will re-.
quire some time before we can Dc.
termine whether che association
will take the action advocate.
Chicago retailers are with me on
the subject. We have reason 60 be.
Iieve that foreign speeulators are
buying foodstuffs in The United
States right now, and am asking
the executive board 60 consider the
advocacy Of prohibition Of the
export Of foodstutfs also"
Price Of cut meats, wholesale,
were unchanged today.
Washington. Aug. 14.-Agents q the
department Of commerce began thajs
work today as part Of the investors
ton ordered by President Wilson 70
determine II food prices IN this ooun-
try are being artincially raised bscauss
OF the European war. These instruo.
tions were sent to field agents In New
York, Boston. Seattle. Chicago. Atlanta
and New Orleans:
you are instructed to inquire
Immediately and carefully whether
there has been a recent rise in
retail prices In your city and vi
entities. and II so on what articles
and to what extent.
Special attention should be
given to foodstuffs and articles OF
clothing and other necessities.
Learn whether the advance, II Il
exists is general or confined to
particular commodities. and II SO
what ones. Find If 1t has been sud-
den or gradual, or II any articles
have fallen in price. Learn what
reasons are given for any advance
that may have occurred and In
quire particularly as to whether
such reasons are the actual ones.
After Spectators.
Give special care to determin-
ing If there has been any advance
due to speculation. either on the
general war situation or on the
temporary delay In ocean transit.
Consider whether a fair stock ex-
lists. or is available, OF any COM
modify that may have been adj
vanced. and whether the facts
show purpose to use the war
situation to secure undue extra
profits by increased prices.
Study to learn II any combina-
tion exists at advance OF prices
under existing conditions. When
the facts shall have been deter
mined sufficiently to give \ clear
idea OF the general situation, re-
port them promptly to the chief OF
the bureau Of foreign and domestic
commerce and continue the inquiry
subject to his Instructions
Facts Within Week.
Secretary Redfield said he expected
to have enough facts within the next
week to turn over to the attorney gen.
eral for action.
Investigation OF food prices In the
national capital began today. District
Attorney Wilson began a grand Jury
Investigation and summoned commits
sion merchants, buyers for hotels, and
others. to testify.
District attorneys in some OF the
nearby states telegraphed to the at
torney general today that they believed
many increases in food prices were flc-
titions. and asked In some cases fol
special investigators to assist them.