Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-07
SWEEPING PROBE
INTO FOOD PRICE
Federal Investigation of Liv-
ing Cost Under Way; Will
Be Comprehensive.
MAY CALL IN GRAND JURIES
Revelations Expected in Big
Cities, Where Boards of
Trade Are Under Fire.

WASHINGTON. Dec. G.-Thc fed
eral investigation of the high cost Of
living began today to take definite
form, with indications that 1t would be
one of the most comprehensive ever
undertaken and would extend to every
section of the United states Not only
Is sweeping inquiry into the cause of
tie soatinr cost of foodstuffs coutem-
plated, hut the recen' pinch i'm the
coal supply and It's resultant price ad-
Nanccs also viii be made in all prob
ability the subject of a broad investi-
cation.
From President Wilson down Off
cials began To cope in earnest with
the problems presented 10y the situa-
ton The president took under con-
sideration preliminary reports which,
with others yet to come. viii form the
basis for recon mendatons he may
iGake to congress.
Speeches i'm House.
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
fureien commerce committee, OF
which Representative Adamson, who
loan
Department of justice officials held
all-day conferences with members of
the federal trade commission and DIS
n let Attorney Anderson of Boston, in
charge Of the departments inVestga-
tion, who is here to formulate a def
mite plan of conducting the nation
wide inquiry.
so Probcrs Working.
About fifty picked Investigators Of
the departments bureau of inVestiga
tiCn were reported to be at work
thruout the country gathering data
which will determine the attorney
generals course Of action.
The interstate commerce commits
sion probably will be called upon to
aid by furnishing data relative to
shipments of foodstuffs. Grand jury
Investigation at New York or Chicago,
or both, of the reasons for rising
prices are said to be under considcra
| ton. With the program still in proc
ess of formation there were increasing
| indications that officials were consld-
ering the situation from three angles,
namely:
To Find out Why.
1-Determlnation of the actual
cause of the rapid rise in food
due to natural economic laws, to
the unwarranted action of indl-
vidual dealers and producers in
| advancing prices or whether
there exist agreements among
groups of dealers or producers to
boost prices.
2-Vigorous prosecution of per-
sons or firms, if any who by Nio-
laticn of existing laws i'm making
agreements to raise prices or oth-
Crwise have contributed to the
upward trend of prices.
3-Enactment of legislation to
remedy the present situation ana
to prevent its recurrence.
Investigate Boards of Trade.
| The situation is in the first of these
stages so far as the department OF
| iustice is concerned. Department of
! ficials are understood To be consider
! ing the advisabilty of investigating
! such organizations as the Chicago
board of trade, the Chicago butter ana
egg exchange, the Elgin board OF
trade and the New York produce
sugar and coffee exchanges. An in
uuiry into the amount of foodstuffS
| held in all the cold storage establish
ments of the country and possibly as
to the volume of grain stored in ele-
| vators also is said to be under con-
| sdcration,
Proposals in congress looking to a
| remedy for the problem ranged from
a discussion Of the omnibus hatcheries
bill which would provide for fish
hatcherics in twenty states, to dec
laration by Chairman Henry of the
rules committee after conference
with the president that he thot con
gress would conduct an investigation
of the high cost of living. bill by
Representative SABBATH of Illinois was
designed to aid federal employees to
meet the situation by increasing from
/ 10 to 90 per cent the salaries of those
earning up to S1,l00 annually.