The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-08-17
CHARGE SPECULATION
RAISED FOOD PRICES

Present high prices Of foodstunfs are
unwarranted and due to the greed Of
speculators, according to numerous re-
ports from special agents and from
citizens In various parts of the country
received today by the Department Of
Justice
1T Is an unspeakable outrage to tax
every able In the land 80 per cent for
the benefit of the speculator alone, -
writes a Lansing, Mich, man, who is
hopeful that prices will recede to what
they were a month ago.
With the receipt of reports from De-
partment of Justice probers to ascer-
tain IL European. war conditions are
being made the excuse for advanced
prices the Attorney General believes
that the nationwide investigation will
furnish the department. with sufficient
facs to bring prosecutions against the
offenders.
II the present laws do not provide
punishment for spectators who denber-
ately juggle the markets for private
gain, Senator Culberson suggested on
the floor of the Senate today that the
Clayton antitrust bill. now under con-
sideration, be amended to answer.
Are Zuizzing Many.
Simultaneous with the activities of
the Department Of Justice, District At
torney Clarence R Wilson and his s.
ststants are quizzing Washington whole
salers, railroad men, and large buyers
In an effort to ascertain in whit measure
food prices in the District have been
affected by the recent general upward
tendency.
Experts from the Department Of Jus
uce today went to Baltimore to assist
the district attorney there n a thor
ough probe of food prices Housewives
of the Monumental City have written
the authorities many letters showing
rapid upward jumps Of some Of the food
prices in the last week Or two. Other
evidence to show that housekeepers are
paving too high prices for foodstuffs
mas t'een unearthed and the asslstan nee
OF the Department Of Justice agents
was requested to determine Just who
among the retailers and wholesalers.
are responsible for the apparently in
Hated prices.
That the increased prices are general
and confined to no one section of the
country was indicated today when the
attorney General received an illumin-
. ting statement from a United States
district attorney in Texas. Today's
prices compared with those of a week
ago showed a $3.50 increase in sugar
by the hundred, a Scent increase in
flour per barrel, and q 81 advance In
lemons by the case Swiss cheese. beef
products, and pork also were increased
between and 10 cents a pound.
Suggests GAINESVILLE.
A GAINESVILLE, Wis, man suggests his
town as good place to start the in
vestigation. declaring that a combina-
ton of grocers exists there Increases
averaging 100 per cent are reported in
City, Mo-, from a correspondent.
A genera! manager OF one of the larg-
est live stock commission companies in
The Middle West informed the depart
nent that, while all live stock declined
On the Chicago market last week,
dressed products Immediately increased
several cents a pound. The packers
said the reductions were made on ac-
count Of financial conditions and the |
;trtngency of money" he writes. but |
do not know what excuse they gave
@ rthe price Of dressed articles being |
advanced"
Miss ANNA NJ. Oliver. Of Conymghan,
Pa, informed the department Of a Pc
;uliar experience. Ordering from a re-
,ent 'catslog, she sent a large seed firm
n New York her check for 80 for three ,
bushels of winter vetch. and thirty |
pounds Of crimson clover. In reply she |
'eceived a letter from the firm stating |
hat owing 10 present conditions in Eu-
'ope, prices on the items had advanced
o 1850, asking her to remit a balance
II S12.S.