Evening star., 1914-08-16
RELIEF |SHOPEDFOR
IN HIGH COST PROBE
Confidence Inspired by Ear
nestness of President to
Provide Remedy. :
INVESTIGATION GOING ON
ALL OVER UNITED STATES
Sherman Law Only Statute Provid-
ing for Correction-New Legisla-
tion May Be Asked of Congress.


With the governments powerful moose
spread and taut about the sources OF
high food prices. and probers working
both at advantage and disadvantage
to discover why an American public
should suffer on account of a war
many thousands OF miles over sea from
this land OF high-costing foods. the
ultimate consumer can but now stand
by and wait for results. Meanwhile he
will pay increasing prices for sugar.
-four and other commodities
Results may begin to show within
the next couple of days, possibly by
Tuesday. say some officials. But what
they mean by results they would not
say.
If II is the report of some fnvesti-
gator who finds the increases justified.
then the consumer will not think il
much of result. But IL some one
Is found who is willfully conspiring
to make capital out of the war situa-
tion by withholding supplies from the
market, some one will suffer, say gov
ernment officials.
Attorney General McReynolds finds that
the Sherman law is the only statute pro
viding punishment for any one responsible
for the raise in prices. However, the
President. in his eager attempt to relieve
the public, seems willing to have special
legislation passed to assist law officers Of
the government in dealing with these con-
ditions
Most reports that have come to gov
ernment offices participating in the in
vestigation contain only facts well known
to any housewife-that is, that the prices
have increased. But the main object of
Investigation now is to find the cause of
the increase and who are responsible
The big beet sugar supply and crops
which should now be on the market, but
which are being held up somewhere, fur
nish excellent clews for government agents
to follow. When a showing is made on
this. there is a possibility that big
point in the investigation will be an
swered. The holding up OF these big
supplies will furnish the solution to some
of the high prices. Where the blame at
taches will probably point to individuals
to be reckoned with.
Stock Gambling Blamed.
There are officials in the government
service who believe that the present
high prices are due to gambling in stocks
and futures. They believe that investi-
cations will show this.
The small retailer is to blame in many
instances for the increases. according to
ing that war would have some effect on
prices cleaned out their cellars and LAID
in large supplies, particularly sugar anu
-four.
These were laid in at the current mar
ket prices. When the rates began 10
soar these merchants were not willing 70
give their customers the benefit of their
forethought, but just went on increasils
prices as though they were buying al
advanced market prices.
fharA
touch these merchants. No law says
that when a merchant buys at a certain
price he must be satisfied with GER
tain margin.
long the high cost of living investiga-
tions and have seen them pass without
attempt to correct any wrongs that
are found, now believe the f.eslo.h
will find a solution with the aid OF tne
: Intricate departmental machinery. ne
has heen imbued. 1T is recognized. with
a whole-souled desire to lower prices
If II can be done and to correct evils
either by legislation or by making an
example of those responsible.
The current week probably Yiil see
grand juries all over the country tax
ing up the Investigations under the di-
rection of the district attorneys. some
thing of the methods pursued In BOOST
ing prices probably will be brought out
then. -
Nothing was done yesterday by the
grand Jury in the investigation here,
which was the first to be started TO-
morrow morning. however, the invesu-
CATION will be continued in earnest.
The witnesses who were summoned
Friday will be allowed TO finish their
examination. Then others Will be
called to appear to tell what they know
Of increase in prices and how far the
law of supply and demand or the
theory and practice of monopoly mas
price marks
with the President behind all angles
of the investigation. not source is TO
be left unprobed in the attempt TO ferrel
out and correct the evils of exceedingly
high prices. While for the next few
days it probably will be a case of mark
ing time for headquarters in Washing
ton, the branch offices of the various
government departments called upon
by the President to take up the hghl
for the ultimate consumer VIII be IKE
busy beehives, knowing as they do that
the executive is watchfully waiting for
results.
investigations is this one started here hl
President Wilson during the pas
week that some are confident that
something will result. Other and pre-
vious Investigations have been con
Quoted in one place, witnesses have
been summoned from various terri
tories and much time has been con-
sumed in bringing them. with the ron
seQuent delays. With the present IN
vestigation, however, the methods ass
different.
Orders were given. Government ma
chinery was started whrling. Within
twenty-four hours hundreds of separate
and distinct Investigations were going on
over the entire country. TO pour In thei
reports into one big hopper at Washlns-
ton for compilation and conslderatloh
The current investigation probably VIII
be over in less time than 1t took Con
gress or any of the departments to gel
ready to make previous investigations.
Congress is still wrangling over various
high-cost- of living investigations. Nun
bers of propositions are lying in both
houses unacted upon. The joint resolu-
ton authorizing and directing the De
partment of Labor to make inquiry into
the cost of living in the District OF Co
lumbia and to report to Congress. intro
duced by Senator Kenyon. went over.
yesterday. when reached on the calendar
in the Senate.
PACKERS STORY DISCREDITED.