Evening star., 1914-08-12
FOOD PRICE JUMP
ENRAGES CONGRESS
"Corner" ManipuIators Accus-
ed of Exacting Exorbitant
Increases.
Representative HOWARD
HAS STARTED INQUIRY
Department of Justice and Secretary
of Commerce May Be Asked for
Explanation.

An inquiry into the economic and legal
sides of the arbitrary increase In the
prices of foodstuffs was asked today by
Representative Howard Of Georgia in
resolution introduced in the House. The
southern member, in his resolution. ar
raigns the food corner" for "exacting
exorbitant food prices" and declares the
statement that the European war Is re
sponsible for tight market is unfounded
because of the fact that exportation
of foodstuffs has decrease since the war
began.
The Howard resolution asks the Secre-
tary of Commerce to look INTO the cor
ner" and that the Department OF Justice
be requested to report on any Investigation
that it is making to punish the persons
guilty of entering into agreements to raise
the price Of commodities.
Provisions of Resolution.
The resolution provides that 'the Sec
retary Of Commerce be requested to SUD
init to Congress, as soon as practicapie
after the passage of this resolution. a
statement showing the amount OF 1000
stuffs exported in European trade Tor
the calendar month preceding the Euro.
pean disturbances. and the amount OF
such foodstuffs exported IN Europtan
European disturbances, together with
such information as he may be abie 10
obtain as to the efforts OF individuals
firms and corporations engaged in the
nractice commonly known in the trade
as 'cornering foodstuffs: also such IN
format ation as may be obtainable from IN
yestigation as to any increase IN me
placing of perishable foodstuHs In cold
storage. as compared to the storage OF
such perishable commodities during nor
NAL conditions preceding said European
disturbances; also prices being paid the
producer of such commodities upon
which Increase In price is being exact
ed: together with such recommendation
as he may deem Just and proper as to
what action should be taken by Con-
gress to prevent the exaction of ex-
orbitant prices from the consuming pub
lie of the United States
The resolution further provides that
the Attorney General be requested TO
report to Congress, as soon as prac-
ticable. what Investigations are being
made by the Department of Justice
for the ascertainment of the exaction
of exorbitant prices for foodstuns by
individuals. firms and corporations IN
the United States, and what steps. II
any, are being taken by the said De-
partment of Justice for purposes OF
prosecution in such cases as investiga-
tion may disclose are punishable under
existing antitrust laws.
Members Of Congress Enraged.
Members of Congress are actually en-
ragged at the skyward trend that food
prices are taking under the pretext
that the European war forces the mar
ket upward. and several prominent
democrats of the House today predict
ed the President would make q decla-
ration to Congress which would stand
the food barons" on their heads.
II wish we could rush through law
that would send to the penitentiary
every man who has anything to do
into effect in the past two weeks rails
ing the prices of food" said a member
of the interstate and foreign commerce
who did not wish his name
to be used.
Southern members of the House are
indignant at the talk of the rise in
pork products.
The biggest flour firm in the mid
die west had lobby at work here for
several days last week, IL was learned
today, for the express purpose of help
ing along merchant marine Legislation
that would provide ships to carry their
product to Europe.
One of the representatives OF this firm
spent much time with Representative
Stephens of Minnesota, and also at the
State Department doing everything he
could to arrange for ships to carry the
firms product across the Atlantic. II
is understood he expressed fear that
the United States would be glutted
with flour unless they could keep sell
ing flour to Europe.
In view of these facts, which have
become generally known about tire
House of Representatives, there is no
sympathy whatsoever with the ar
that the price of -four has
iumped a dollar and half barrel IN
two weeks