The Washington herald., 1914-08-13
FOOD Price WAR
INVOLVES wilson
Congressman Hope President
WIN Protest Advances in
Special Message.
URGE JAIL FOR GUILTY:
Members. Holding Spectators" Re
sponsible for Jump in Living. Of
fer Bill Directing Investigations.

Hope is expressed by members OF Con-
gross that President Wilson may be per-
! sa1ded to send In a message protesting
against the advances in the price Of food
that have followed the war outbreak I'm
Europe. Members are disposed to hold
spectators" responsible for the in
cresses in -four, sugar and other COM
modities Of everyday necessity. They are
o. the opinion that IL the President
directed attention to the matter in a
message IL might have a salutary effect
OF the situation. Another resolution on
the price situation was offered in the
House yesterday by Representative Ii W.
ard, of Georgia.
The resolutions presented Tuesday were
referred yesterday to the Secretary of
Commerce by the Committee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce. II IL the ex-
pectation that Secretary Redfield will
make a comprehensive report and prob
ably suggest remedial measures.
Increase of 2: Per Cent.
Representative Kelly, of Pennsylvania,
who introduced one OF the resolutions
Tuesday, made the statement yesterday
that there has been a general advance
within the last two weeks OF about p
per cent on all the principal staple ar
ticles Of food.
Il wish We could rush through law
that would send TO the penitentiary every
man who has anything to do with the
agreement. which have gone into effect
in the last two weeks raising the prices
Of food" said Representative DonohOe.
of Pennsylvania, author OF one OF the
resolutions presented Tuesday.
An amendment TO the Clayton bill,
aimed at speculation in foodstufrs is be-
ing considered seriously by leaders in
Congress as a means for meeting the
present increase In prices The amend
rnent would compel the fixing OF prices
on staple products such as -four, bread,
etc.
The cold statistics given by the various
executive departments in Washington are
invoked by the officials to prove their
assertions
Meat aud Dairy Products.
Meat and dairy products constitute. one
of the principal foods. The United
States annually has on hand $2,521, SIS, $50
worth OF this food. In marked contrast.
American imports Of meat and dairy
small fraction. the absence of which
would scarcely be felt.
The other great food staple is wheat.
Compared to our annual domestic supply
Of $5SS 400, 900, We import the meager guam
tity Of s6,447.OOO. This import figure in
cludes such foreign-manufactured bread
stuffs as macaroni. spaghetti, and yermi-
cell.
The per capita consumption of coffee
in the United States is nine pounds per
year: OF tea, one pound. This is prac-
tically all imported. Although the tea
and coffee producing nations are not now
directly involved in the war. the inter
ruption 10 shipping Is expected to raise
the prices on these commodities to a
considerable extent. Annually the United
States imports .l35 Co., 2l worth of tea
and coffee.
Representative Kahn. Of California, an
nOunced yesterday that he would pre-
pare and introduce a bill making II a
penal offerse for any two persons, firms,
or corporations to Join in an agreement
to advance the prices Of foodstuffs.
This measure might be enacted in a
temporary sense, covering a period Of
twelve months. for instance" said Mr.
Kahn, but prompt action at this time
will have a deterrent effect and bring
down the prices to a normal level"
Charles ]. Brand, chief of the newly
created Office OF Markets of the Depart
ment of Agriculture, states that already
the department is advised that food prices
throughout the United States are rapidly
mounting. That they may reach an al
most prohibitlve level is believed to be
within the realm of possibility unless
some preventive steps are taken.
The Department of Justice took steps
to inquire into the raising of prices on
meats by the Western packers.