Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-07
ASSERTS twelve
men IN CONTROL
OF FOOD SUPPLY
Commissioner of Weights and
Measures Says Dozen Per- \,
sons Have a Strangle
Hold on Nation. s SsssS
ASKS GRAND JUr S.sSSBl
Government - sdtion of
High Cost siving As
sumes Definite Shape.
WILSON STUDIES SITUATION

New York, Dec. o.-lt appears
twelve men in this city are SO manip-
ulating the food market that they
establish prices for the entire coun-
try, Joseph Hartigan, commissioner
OF weights and measures, said today
in statement recommending the
calling of federal grand jury to in
vestigate the situation with view
to indicting men who might be guilty
of maintaining an excessively high
cost OF living.
John J. Dillon, state commissioner
of foods and markets. announced
that certain dealers were defying his
order that cold storage eggs be so
marked and that he would submit
evidence to city or state authorities
and urge prosecution. He said he
had written President Wilson sug-
gesting national legislation regu-
lating cold storage and urging stand
ardization in packing and freight
rates.
An egg boycott movement was
launched in more than score Of
upstate cities today in response to
proclamations issued by their
mayors.
Investigation Takes Shape.
Washington, Dec. 6.--The govern
ments investigation of the high cost
of living began assuming definite out
lines today in conferences between
officials of the Department of JUS
tice, the Federal Trade commission
and United States Attorney Ander-
son of Boston, into whose hands the
attorney general has placed direction
OF the work.
President Wilson also began his
study of such reports as already have
been made to him and will await 9TH
ers before making recommendations
to congress.
The investigation will center at
first in the chief cities. Mr.. Ander-
son will be aided by special force
of Departmental Justice investiga-
tors and by all federal district attor-
neys from whom he may request as
sistance.
Such organizations as the Chicago
Board of Trade, the New York Pro-
duce exchange and exchanges where
coffee, sugar and other foodstuffs are
dealt in, may come within the scope
of the investigation, it was announced,
although it has not been determined
definitely when they will be investi
gated.
One Factor Illegal.
Three factors are regarded by the
Department of Justice officers as
prime reasons for the increased cost
of living. They are the natural
economic upward tendency OF prices,
the desire of dealers to obtain as
much as possible for their wares, even
to the extent of taking advantage of
the situation created by the war to
advance prices unwarrantably, and
possible agreements by producers or
dealers to increase prices.
The last factor, it was authorita-
lively announced, is the only one with
which officials are concerned. The
trade commission will cooperate with
the department to the extent of sub
mitting such data as it already has
and Of securing other data readily OBJ
tainable.
In addition to the rise in foodstuffs,
officials have decided to investigate
thoroughly the causes for the recent
increase in coal prices. 1t was pointed
out, however, that local increases,
such as the recent rise in the price of
coal sold to tenement house dwellers
in New York and other large cities,
does not come within the federal gov
ernments Jurisdiction.