Evening star., 1916-12-11
FOODCOST PROBE
TO GRAND JUR|ES
Federal Inquiries to Be Trans
ferred to Boston, Chicago
and Elsewhere.
INVESTIGATING IN new YORK

Preparations for the transfer of the
federal inquiry into the high cost of
living to grand juries at Chicago, New
York. Detroit and probably other cities
were made today by the Department of
Justice.
United States Attorney Anderson of
Boston, in charge of the investigation,
devoted today to studying the informa-
ton collected from various sources and
reported to the department by its field
Investigators. 1t is understood Mr.! An
derson will take with him a mass of
data relating to the activities OF al
legged food and coal speculators when
he leaves for Chicago. Much of the in
formation in Mr. Anderson's possession
has not yet been digested. it was said.
for lack of time Such data as he re-
CARDS important will probably be
placed before the various grand juries.
President Wilson was continuing his
study of reports bearing on the subject
and probably would see Mr.. Anderson
before the !atter's departure.
Investigation On in New York.
NEW YORK, December 1.-THE fed
eral governments inquiry into the high
cost of living began here today with
preparations for grand jury investi-
CATION of the coal business. Similar
Detroit. Toledo and Cincinnati. These
| inquiries will be interlocking and will
exchange information.
According to Frank NJ. Swacker, spe-
ctal prosecutor representing the De-
partment of Justice, the government al
| ready has discovered that there has
| been no real shortage in the supply OF
anthracite coal at this port and nc
| warrant for the high prices charged by
some dealers. Mr.. Swacker said that
the grand jury would consider also
evidence relating to conspiracies in FIX
ing the prices of food commodities.
The committees appointed by Gov
Whitman and Mayor Mitchell to seek
! remedies for the high cost of food will
meet this afternoon at the office OF
George w. Perkins, who is chairman OF
both organizations.
1T is our object" said Mr.. Perkins
! ito conduct an inquiry along the
broadest lines. A definite plan of ac-
tion will be announced in a few days"
Demand Embargo on Foodstuffs.
| CHICAGO, December 1l-Petitions
demanding that President Wilson place
an embargo on expectation of flour
| sugar. canned milks, tomatoes and
wheat will be placed in every grocery
| in forty-one states for housewives tc
sign. if resolution presented today tt
the executive board of the National AS
| sociation of Retail Grocers and Aier-
chants is adopted
The petition was presented by Franl
b. Connolly of San Francisco. vice presi
dent of the association, who asserted
| that retail grocers are losing money OF
! 90 per cent of the products they sell.
| Mr.. Connolly said that similar reso
luton, adopted by the California Rel =.
| Grocers' Association. was placed on tn,
| counter in every grocery in the state
| and almost in every instance 1t wa.
| signed by customers.
The Federal Inquiry.
While the grocers' executive board
was in session federal officials pur.
sued their inquiry into the Relationship
existing between wholesale and retail
grocers, and it's effect on the cost Of
living.
Since the beginning of their food in
quiry, the federal officials declare they
have received a number of trade let
tiers issued by large wholesale firms ir
which the retail dealers We're advised
! to raise the price of various article.
regardless OF the cost
Members of the executive board sait