The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-12-08
FEDERAL FOOD
INQUIRY BEGUN
Is Assuming Definite FOrm--Indica-
lions Show n Is Very Com
prehensivc,

ever undertaken and would extend tc
every section Of the United States.
Not only is a sweeping inquiry int
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 situation
The President took under considera-
ton preliminary reports which, with
others yet to come, will form the basis
for recommendation he may make to
Congress.
A dozen speeches on the subject
we're made in the House and several
resolution inquiries were introduced
These we're referred to committees
without discussion, most of them go.
ing to the Interstate and Foreign Com
merce Committee, of which Repre-
sentative Adamson, who is opposed to
embargoes, is the chairman.
Department of Justice officials held
all-day conferences with members Of
he Federal Trade Commission and
District Attorney Anderson, of Boston,
in charge of theft departments inves-
tigation and here to formulate a def
mite plan of conducting the nation
wide inquiry. About fifty picked in
yestigators of the departments bureau
of investigation were reported to be
At work throughout the country gath
ering data which will determine the
attorney generals course of action.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion probably will be called upon to
lid by furnishing data relative to
shipments of foodstuffs, and Mr.. An
derson will confer with commission Of
details before his departure. Crane
jury Investigations at New York or
Chicago, or both. of the reasons for
rising prices are said to be still under
considerations.
With the program still in process of
formation, there were increasing indi-
cations that officials were considering
the situation from three angles, name
ly:
1. Determination of the actual
causes of the rapid rise in foodstuffs
and coal, whether it was due to nat
ural economic laws, to the unwarrant-
ed action of individual dealers and
producers in advancing prices, or
whether there exist agreements among
groups of dealers of producers to
boost prices.
2. Vigorous prosecution of persons
or firms, if any, who, by violation of
existing laws i'm making agreements to
raise prices or otherwise have con-
tributed to the upward trend of prices.
3. Enactment of legislation to
remedy the present situation and to
prevent its recurrence.
The situation is in the first of these
stages so far as the Department of
Justice is concerned. With it's inves-
tigators already at work, department
officials called upon the Federal
Trade Commission for cooperation
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 commits
sion by other pending inquiries.
In addition, department officials are
understood to be considering the adj
visibility of investigating such organ
izations as the Chicago Board of
Trade, the Chicago Butter and Eggs
Exchange, the Elgin Board of Trade,
and the New York Produce, Sugar and
Coffee Exchanges, with a view to as
certaining by what pratices the mar
ket values of certain foodstuffs dealt
in by the bodies are determined. An
inquiry 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 eleva-
tors also is said to be under consid-
Grafton.
Complaints have reached the depart
ment that coal prices were advanced
recently because. in large measure, of
the activities Of certain Independent
dealers, not heretofore in the bust
ness who are reported to have con
tracted with the chief coal companies
for virtually their entire unsold out
put for the winter. 1t was charged
that these dealers, seeming fat profits
had tried to corner the available sup
ply and thus forced up prices. These
and other complaints under investi-
cation will be considered with a view
to prosecution, IL warranted undeg
Federal laws. which require that the
supplies In question must have been
for interstate commerce.
Proposals in Congress looking to a
remedy for the problem ranged from
decision OF the omnibus hatcheries bill