The Monroe journal. [volume] (Monroe, N.C.) 189?-1965, 1916-12-08
NATIONWIDE PROBE BEGUN
Dozen Speeches Made - Resolutions
Introduced Referred 10 Committees
Wilson and Department Of jus
tiee Work ON Plans For fnveSti-

Dozen Speeches Made - Resolutions
Introduced Referred 10 Committees
Wilson and Department of Jus
tiee Work ON Plans For investi-
CATION.
Washington Dispatch. Dec. 8.
The Federal investigation of the
high cost of living began today to
take definite form, with indications
4 that Il would be one of the most COM
prehensive ever undertaken and
would extend 10 every section of the
United States. Not only il sweep
ing inquiry into the cause of the soar
ing foodstuffs contemplated. but the
recent pinch in the coal supply and
its resultant price advances also may
be made the subject OF broad inyesti-
cation.
From President Wilson down. Off
Gals began To cope in earnest with
the problems presented by the situa-
ton. The President took under con-
sideration preliminary reports which
win Others yet to come Will form
The basis for recommendation he
may make 10 Congress.
a dozen speeches on the subject
were made in the House and several
resolutions, proposing inquiries. were
introduced. These were referred to
committees without discussion. most
OF them going to the interstate and
foreign commerce committee, of
which Representative Adamson. who
is opposed 10 embargoes, is the chair
man.
Department Of Justice officials con-
TERED with members of the Federal
Trade Commission and with District
Attorney Anderson of Boston. in
charge of the Departments investi-
cation and here TO formulate a def
mite plan OF conducting the Nation
wide inquiry. About SO picked inves-
tlgators of the Departments bureau
OF investigation were represented to
be at work throughout the country
gathering data which will determine
the Attorney Generals course of ac-
ton.
Three Angles 10 Situation.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion probably will be called upon to
aid by furnishing data relative to
shipments of foodstuffs. and Mr.. An
derson will confer with commission
officials before his departure. Grand
Jury investigation al New York or
Chicago or both are SAID TO be still
under consideration.
With the program still in process
of formation, there were increasing
indications that officials were consid-
ering the situation from three angles.
differentiation of the actual
causes of the rapid rise in foodstuffs
and coal, whether IL was due 10 nat
ural economical laws, to the unwar-
ranted action of individual dealers
and producers in advancing prices. or
whether there exist agreements
among groups of dealers or producers
to boost prices.
Vigorous prosecutions Of per-
sons or firms, if any, who by viola
tlon OF existing laws in making agree
ments TO raise prices or otherwise
have contributed to the upward trend
Of prices.
3-Enactment of legislation to
Ielleoy the present situation and to
prevent its recurrence.
The situation is now in the first
Of these stages, Department Of Jus
lice officials have called upon the
Fedora Trade Commission fer CO.
operation and were promised all data
which the commission has bearing on
The situation and aid in obtaining "a
iitional information.
To Probe Produce Exchanges.
Department officials are also UNI
ierstood TO be considering the adj
disability of investigating such or
sanizations as the Chicago Board OF
Trade, the Chicago Butter and Egg
exchange, the Elgin Board of Trade
md the New York Produce, Sugar
md Coffee Exchanges with a view to
by what practices the
market values of certain foodstuffs
lealt in by the bodies are determined.
IN inquiry into the amount of food
tufts held in all the cold storage
of the country and
possibly as to the volume of grain
tored in elevators also 10 said to be
lnder consideration.