Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-08-14

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the question, new legislation should be
passed.
Officials said the president considered
that in many cases the increases were
wholly unjustifiable. When he returned
from Mrs. Wilson's burial at Rome, Ga,
resolutions already had been introduced
in the house calling on the Department
of Commerce and the Department Of
Justice to report what action they were
taking. President Wilson's interest in
the situation however, was wholly apart
from that and he probably would have
taken action before had it not been for
the death in the White House.
\ Special agents of the Department of
Justice throughout the country and
investigators of the Department of Com
merce are available to collect evidence
for any action the attorney general may
think warranted. The Department of
Labor also has a corps WHICH has be-
come very expert in gathering evidence
1of the increased cost of living.
McReynoIds Moves Promptly.
Attorney General McReynolds at once
replied to the president as follows:
The head of QUIZ special agents has
been instructed to give directions TO MS
men throughout the country to begin in
vestigations in order. to ascertain the real
facts, and / am sending the various dis
trict attorneys similar instructions This
should enable us TO secure some definite
information in respect to true conditions.
MAY | take the liberty of suggesting
that perhaps the agents of the Depart
mept of Commerce could render valuable
assistance along the lines indicated.
when we have become somewhat more
familiar with the exact situation ! nope
TO be able to make you some suggestions
in respect of legal proceeding or appro-
pirate legislation.
''The department has for some time
been making Investigations in various
directions concerning the price OF FOOD
stuffs'
The president at once instructed secre-
tarv Redfield to have his agents begin
similar Investigations.
inquiry Begins In New York
NEW YORK, Aug. DEMONSTRATION OF
an alleged conspiracy to increase the price
of food in New York City was TO begin
today by District Attorney Whitman, who
announced that persons having khowl-
edge of food prices would be given an OPP
portunity of appearing before one of his
assistants to tell their version of the up
ward trend OF prices,
In the event that certain persons whom
the district attorney has invited to attend
his inquiry fail to appear. ne announced
that they would be suDpoenaed.
Two other Investigations to be set in
motion today were those under the au-
spices of Mayor Mitchell and President
AiaVOF
Mitchell announced that he would appoint
a citizens committee of fifty to look into
the situation. President Marks will seek
Ia ameliorate conditions through the open
market committee which has been called
TO meet late today.
In addition TO the activity OF the city
officials, Mrs. Julia Heath, president OF
the Housewives league, has taken steps
- to start a food boycott as protest
against high prices. She has issued an
appeal to every housewife in the country
to Join In the boycott.
The district attorneys Investigation
may lead to grand jury action.
sausage stronger in Chicago.
CHICAGO, Aug. 13.-There was no
change In the wholesale price OF cut
meats at the stock yards today except
that sausage was described as "a trifle
stronger"
The investigation OF the alleged war
rise Of prices on foodstuffs ordered by
the president. will he taken up, so far
as Chicago is concerned. by District At
torney wilkerson on his return from va
cation tomorrow.
Port of Antwerp Is Open.
NEW YORK, Aug. lS-The Belgian
consulate today made public the follow
ing cablegram from the minister of war
at Brussels:
THE port OF antwerp is open and the
sstuaries of the river Scheldt are open to
commercial navigation During the day
there will be Dutch pilots"