Evening star., 1916-12-07
PROBE
OF LIVING COST ON
President and Other Govern
ment Officials Making Com
- '--5a= - : sss.s-z = .- s--e- 8
prehensive Investigation.
LEGISLATION MAY ENsUE

President Wilson and many other Of
work on the most comprehensive in
vestigation OF the increase in the living
cost which has even been undertaken in
the United States.
The program still is in process of
formation, but the indications are that
the inquiry will take the following form:
l. Determination of the actual causes
of the rise in the prices of foodstuffs
and coal-whether these increases have
been due to natural economic laws. to
action of individual dealers and pro-
ducers in advancing prices. or to agree
rnents among groups Of dealers and
producers.
9. Possibility Of vigorous prosecution
of persons or firms. if any. who have
violated laws and thus contributed to
the upward trend of prices.
2. Possible enactment of legislation
toremedy the situation and prevent its
recurrence.
Fifty Investigators at Work.
Department of Justice officials have
held conferences with members of the
federal trade commission and District
Attorney Anderson Of Boston. In charge
of the departments investigation to
formulate a definite plan OF conducting
the nation wide inquiry
About fifty picked investigators of
the department's bureau of investiga-
throughout the country gathering data
which will determine the Attorney
Generals course of action.
The interstate commerce commission
probably will be called upon to aid by
furnishing data relative to shipments
of foodstuffs. and Mr.. Anderson will
confer with commission officials before
his departure. Grand jury investiga-
ton a. New York or Chicago or both
of the reasons for raising prices are
said to be still under consideration.
From President Wilson down. officials
have begun to cope in earnest with the
problems presented by the situation.
The r. President has taken under consid-
Grafton preliminary reports. which.
with others yet to come, will form the
basis for recommendations he may
make to Congress.
May Probe Storage Plants.
Department of Justice off1claIS are
understood to be considering the ad-
visibility of investigating such organ
izations as the Chicago Board of Trade,
the Chicago Butter and Egg Exchange,
the Elgin Board of Trade and the New
York produce, sugar and coffee ex-
changes. with a view to ascertaining by
what practices the market values of
certain foodstuffs dealt in by the bodies
are determined.
An inquiry into the amount OF food
stufrs held in all the cold-storage es-
tablishments of the country. and pos
sibly as to the volume Of grain stored
in elevators also. is said to be under
consideration.
Complaints have reached the depart
ment that coal prices were advanced
recently. because, in large measure, of
the activities of certain Independent
dealers. not heretofore in the business,
who are reported to have contracted
with the chief coal companies for ,vir-
tually their entire unsold output for
the winter. II was charged that these
dealers. scenting fat profits, had tried
to corner the available supply and thus
forced up prices
These and other complaints under in
yestigation will be considered with
view of prosecution. II warranted. un-.
der federal laws which require that
the supplies IN question must have
been in or for interstate commerce.