The sun., 1916-12-05
HOUSE GETS II BILLS
TO CUT LIVING COST
Embargo Legislation in Vari-
Gus Forms Proposed as
Congress Opens.
WILSON NAY DISCUSS 1T
President Is Keeping in Close
Touch With Food Price
Situation.

WARRINGTON, Dec. 4~-Embargo legis-
lation as a solution Of the high cost Of
living problem was proposed In a variety
Of forms to-day at tho opening Of Con-
gress. Such legislation. however. appears
to be foredoomed to defeat.
The high cost Of living and what steps
the Federal Government can AXE to con-
troll II. however. assumed proportions As
a national question which overshadowed
all other issues In the FIRST days pro-
ceedinss. The possibility that President
Wilson will deal with the subject In 4
special address grew stronger. although
It was thought probable that the Presi.
dent would select a separate occasion for
1t rather h a to add 1t as a supplement
to his general address tomorrow.
Eleven bills and resolutions seeking
to check the soaring prices Of foo by
stopping shipments to Europe. reducing
parcel post rates on foodstuffs or con-
trolling cold storage were to-day intro
duced in the House.
Sentiment Agaiast EubaPgo.
But while the feeling In the House and
Senate appears to be Overwhelmingly
against any embargo plan a strong SEN
tfment In favor OF an investigation OF
the foo situation by a committee OF
Congress was disclosed. Some resolution
calling for an investigation 10 almost
sure to be passed, II Is thought. The
President In believed to favor this.
Samuel Gompers and q committee OF
the American Federation Of Labor dur.
ing a call on the President to-day asked
him to appoint an investigating commit
tee. but they were informed this was q
matter for Congress to deal with. tn,
President let 1t be known, however. tina
he was keeping in close touch with tn,
food situation n had been in communi
cation with the Acknowledgement ant
Secretary Redneld regarding investiga
tions which are being made.
In the House Representative John J
Eitxgerald. New York, launched his ley
klative remedy for advancing prices b,
the introduction Of four measures, two
u them embargo bills. another a bill reg
ulating cold storage Of food products ant
a fourth designed to facilitate the ship
ment OF farm products through parce
post.
Bill TO Conserve 4. .. wheat.
There were othe. measures shaped 4
the same end. Representative John II
Farr. Pennsylvania, reintroduced his bill
TO provide for the proclamation Of az
embargo upon wheat and It's product
the moment the supply Of the country OF
hand falls below the ten year average.
Representative Meyer London. New
York. announced that ne would introduc,
a bill for Governmental control Of thu
food situation. proposing a system o
regulation similar to that adopted b!
| Australia.
The anti-embargo side OF the con;ro
versy was represented by n resolution
introduced by Representative Charles A
Lindbergh OF Minnesota. saying that al
the trouble has been caused by wa
rious subterfuges employed by parasit
speculators' who have made use Of ex
panding bank conditions to manipulat
food prices.
The resolution provides for the ap
pointment Of a special committee of six
teen members, eight from the Senate an,
eight from the House. to which all en-
barge legislation shall be referred. TIL
committee IL directed by the terms q
the resolution to Investigate the effec
OF such upon our resource,
supply and prices caused by the syster
OF international now prac
tised."
Condemn Food Spectators.
Very few members OF the House re
garded embargo legislation as the prope
way Of dealing with the matter. Repre-