The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1916-12-07
FEDERAL
PROBE IS
WIDENED
Cost of Living Inquiry Be-
comes More Comprehen-
sive Each Day
(Ry Associated Press.l }

Washington, Dec. THE federal
investigation of the high cost Of liv-
ing began yesterday to take definite
form with indications that IL would
be one of the most comprehensive
ever undertaken and would extend to
every section of the United States.
Not only is a sweeping inquiry into
the cause of the soaring cost Of food
stuffs contemplated. but the recent
pinch in the coal supply and its re-
sultant price advances also will be
made in all probability, the subject
of broad investigation.
From President Wilson down OFF,
cials began to cope in earnest with
the problems presented by the situa-
ton. The president took under con-
sideration preliminary reports, which,
with others yet to come. will form
the basis of recommendations he may
make to congress.
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
foreign commerce committee, of which
Representative Adamson, who is op-
posed to embargoes. is the chairman.
Department of justice officials held
all-day conferences with members OF
the federal trade commission and
District Attorney Anderson Of Bos-
ton, in charge Of the departments in
vestigation, who is here to formulate
a definite plan of conducting the ma
ton wide inquiry. About fifty picked
investigators Of the departments bu-
reau Of investigation were reported to
be at work throughout the country
gathering data which will determine
the attorney generals course Of &C
ton.
The Interstate commerce commits
sion probably will be called upon to
aid by furnishing data relative to
shipments of foodstuffs and Mr.. An
derson will confer with commission Of
ficials before his departure. Grand
jury Investigations at New York or
Chicago, or both, of the reasons for
rising prices are said to be 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: gaENtfSSH
1. Determination of the actual
cause Of the rapid rise in foodstuffs
and coal, where it was due to natural
economic laws. to the unwarranted ac-
tion Of Individual dealers and produc-
ers in advancing prices or whether
Of dealers or producers to boost
prices.
2. Vigorous prosecution Of persons
or firms, If any, who by violation Of
existing laws in making agreements
to raise prices or otherwise have con-
tributed to the upward trend of prices
8. Enactment Of legislation to rem
edy the present situation and prevent
it's recurrence.
The situation IL in the first of these
stages, so far as the department OF
justice Is concerned. With its In
vestigators already at work depart
ment officials called on the federal
trade commission for CO. operation and
were promised all data which the
commission already may have bearing
on the situation and further aid in
obtaining information which. can be
acquired without adding materially to
the burden imposed on the commission
by other pending inquiries.
In addition department officials are
understood to be considering the ad-
visibility Of investigating such or
ganizations as the Chicago Board of
Trade. the Chicago Butter and Egg
exchange; the Elgin Butter exchange
and the New York Sugar and Coffee
exchanges, with a view of ascertain
ing by what practices the market
values Of certain foodstuffs dealt in
by the bodies are. determined. An in
qu1ry 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 planned.
Complaints have reached the depart
ment that coal prices were advanced
recently because, in large measure, of
the activities of certain independent
J dealers, not heretofore in the business
VINO are reported to have contracted
with the chief coal companies for vir-
tually their entire unsold output for
the winter. 1t 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
investigation were considered with q
view to prosecution IL warranted. un-
der federal laws which require that the
supplies in question must have beer
| In or for interstate commerce
Proposals in congress looking to q
remedy for the problem ranged from
a discussion of the omnibus hatcheries
bill which would provide for fish
hatcheries in twenty states, to a dec.
laratton by Chairman Henry of the
rules committee after a conference
with the president, that he thought
congress would conduct an investiga.
tion of the high cost of living. They
embraced resolutions by Representa-.
tives Borland and Dill providing fol
general investigations, resolution by
Representative Campbell Of Kansas
which would provide for an embargo
on boots, shoes and manufacturer
leather goods and bill by Represen.
tative SABBATH Of Illinois, designed t.
aid federal employees to meet the sit.
uation by increasing from ten to TWEEN.
ty per cent the salaries Of those earn
ing up to $1,000 annually.