Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-12-07
Department of Justice Is AC-
tive and Many Resolutions
for Inquiries Appear inCon-
greSS,
GRAND JURY PROBES
IN SEVERAL CITIES
.Sudden Advance in Coal Is to
Be Gone Into Thoroughly
With View of Finding Law
VioIat0rS,
tsy MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LSAsEo wlHSl

tBV MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wHHl
Washington, Dec. 6.-The federal
investigation of the high cost of living
began today to take definite form,
with indications that it would extend
to every section of the United states
Not only is a sweeping inquiry into
the soaring cost of foodstuffs contem-
plated, but the recent pinch in the
coal supply and its resultant price ad-
yances also will be made, in all prob
ability, the subject Of broad invesu-
cation.
Officials began to cope in earnest
with the problems presented by the
situation. The president took under
consideration preliminary reports
which. with others Yet to come, will
form the basis for recommendations
he may make to congress.
congressman Would Investigate,
A dozen speeches on the subject
were made in the house ana several
resolutions, proposing inquiries, wer'
introduced. These were referred to
committees without discussion, most
of them gong to the interstate and
foreign commerce committee, of
which Representative Adamson, who
is opposed to embargoes, is the chair
man.
Department of justice officials held
conferences today with members Of
the federal trade commission, ana
District Attorney AndersFn Of Boston,
in charge Of the departments invesu-
cation, and were to formulate a def
mite plan of conducting the nation
wide inquiry About fifty investiga-
tors of the departments bureau of in
vestigatton were reported to be gath
ering data which Will determine the
attorney generals course of action,
Grand Jury Probes Also.
The Interstate Commerce commits
sion probably will be called on to aid
by furnishing data relative to ship
ments Of foodstuffs and Mr.. Ander-
son will confer with commission Off
cials before his departure.
Grand jury investigation at New
York or Chicago, or both, of the rea-
sons for rising prices are still under
consideration.
With the program still in process Of
formation. there were increasing in
dications that officials were consider
ing the situation from three angles,
namely:
Determination of the actual
cause Of the rapid rise in foodstuffs
and coal, whether it was due to natu-
raj econoimc laws, to the unwarrant-
ed action of individual dealers and
producers in advancing prices, or
whether there exist agreements among
groups of dealers or producers to
boost prices
Vigorous prosecution Of persons
or firms, If any, who, by violation OF
existing laws in making agreements
to raise prices or otherwise, have con-
to the upward trend of prices.
3-Enactment of legislation to rem
edy the present situation and to pre-
vent its recurrence,
Department of Justice Active.
The situation is in the first Of these
stages, SO far as the department of
justice is concerned with its investi-
gators already at work, department
called upon the federal trade
commission for cooperation and were
promised all data which the commits
sion already may have bearing on the
and further aid in obtaining
information which can be acquired
adding materially to the bur
den imposed on the commission by
other pending inquiries,
In addition, department officials
are understood to be considering the
Of investigating such or
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 exchanges, with
view to ascertaining by what practices
the market values Of certain food
stuffs dealt in by the bodies are de-
termined An inquiry into the amount
Of foodstuffs held in all the cold stor-
age blishments of the country and
possibly as to the volume of grain
stored in elevators also is said to be
under consideration
Coal Corner Alleged.
Complaints have reached the de-
partment that coal prices were adj
yanced recently because of the activi-
lies of certain Independent dealers
who are reported to have contracted
wfttrt thC-Chicf f-coat- companies for vif-
.ually their entire unsold output for
.he winter It was charged that these
dealers. seeming fat profits. had tried
10 corner the available supply.
These and other complaints under
will be considered with
a view to prosecution, II warranted.
under federal laws which require that