Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-08-13
FACE SUIT !.
7 MEAT PRICES SOAR
DRASTIC ACTION TO BE TAKEN
BY GOVERNMENT IF UNFAIR
VALUES ARE MADE.
DIRECTOR OF MARKET BUREAU
SAYS THEY ARE IN CONTROL
Charges Packing House Interest With
Being in Complete Domination Of
Livestock 6usiness-Farmer. and
Cotton Grower. Have No Cause For
Worry-Usurious Bankers Warned.


! Washington, Aug. 1S-Drastic action
! will be taken by the administration this
week to prevent SPECTATORS in food
Stuffs and farm products from boosting
pean war
Criminal proceedings may be ordered
against the Chicago board of trade and
against the Chicago packers by the at
torney general on the theory that their
operations during the last two weeks
bring them within the terms of the
Sherman antitrust law provisions
against monopolies and restraint Of
trade.
AS soon as President Wilson returns
to Washington from his sad trip to
his cabinet on the domestic price stu
alton. AT this conference "a scheme of
: action Will be mapped out calling for
cooperation between the heads of the
consuming public and the producers.
Inquiry Urged in Congress.
Resolutions have been introduced III
congress calling upon the secretary of
commerce and special congressional
committees TO investigate the Inanpu-
lations OF prices as result of the
war.
Representative Kelly OF Pennsyl-
~ Syt.-.
leadership in the next congress, spec
tally requested the department of COM
merce to proceed against the Chicago
board OF trade which he charged with
operating against the pubic interest
during the present crisis.
The Kelly resolution demands that
the secretary of commerce be instruct
ed to investigate immediately whether
prices have been arbitrarily advanced
on the pretext that the high prices are
the result of the European war" and
also whether the manipulation of value
by spectators on the Chicago board CT
trade and elsewhere is resulting in
unjust and unwarranted advances in
the prices of foodstuffs in spite of rec
ord-Dreaking crops in this country and
the fact that there has been little or
no expectation OF food supplies TO
Europe"
Come TO Aid Of South.
Coincident with the Introduction Of
these resolutions. members from the
south and far west were introducing
measures for the relief of the farmers
sho find that the war blocks their
markets. The cotton situation, accord
ing to southern congressman. is par
ticularly acute and they are clutching
at straws II save the planters.
According To Representative Kelly OF
Pennsylvania there must be some def
mite reason for the differences in the
prices the farmers receive for their
products now and those the consumers
pay. Mr.. Kelly said the farmers are
complaining OF a bear market. while
the consumers are complaining of
bull market.
It is perfectly apparent. he asserted,
that grain and food spectators on the
boards of trade are attempting the
most gigantic corner of foodstuffs in
the history OF pit operations for the
purpose OF holding them until they can
sell them to Europe at their own price.
Prices Up All Over Country.
Retail prices all over the country
have gone up by leaps and bounds
during the. last few days. according to
the official market reports. Meats.
vegetables, sugar. butter. eggs, and
chickens all are soaring. Yet. today,
there is practically no exporting OF any
Of these from the United states be-
eau Of the war
Likewise. with the foreign clothing
trade crippled. with the bulk of Amer
lean cotton crop at the doors OF local
manufacturers waiting to be taken for
the asking, prices on clothing also are
soaring. according to the reports.
Charles j. Brand. director of the bur-
eau of markets in the department of
agricultulture. today asserted that
/, there is absolutely no reason for an
advance in American prices at the
present time.
! SAYS Packers Control Situation.
I Mr.. Brand pointed out that the
packers have the situation just as they
i want It, as they can store their pro-
! duets indefinitely and wait for the
! European market to suit them. He also
| said the spectators with ample ware
I house facilities can do the same thing.
| But he asserted that measures would
! be taken to prevent any undue in.
| crease in prices in the United States.
i The question probably Will be pre-
! sented to the department of justice II
| there is not an immediate relief In the
! situation. Every person who holds back
| his goods at the present tine or who
contracts for elevators, warehouses or
! other facilities in order TO hold them
| back, comes within the terms OF the
| Sherman antitrust act, according to
attorneys in congress.
/ BY attempting to create monopoly
market they are restraining trade ac-
! cording to these congressman. and
vigorous prosecution by the attorney
general probably will be as effective as
any other means in breaking the up
II ESTABLISHED 1854