The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-02-24

MAY BE PROSECUTED

. ! . -
WASHINGTON, Feb. s2l.-The exist
ence Of . trust to curtail the flour sup
ply.and boost the price Of br6ad IN tho
United States was charged by Repre-
sentative Henry T. Rainey Of Illinois
today.
Il base my statsments upon facts
gathered in . personal investieation.
said Raiuey. "At tho annual convon-
ton Of the National Association Of
Master Bakers at Salt Lake City last
aummer. President s. IA Mcdonald. Of
Memphis. announced that . campaign
would be started at once TO educats
the public to Q ten cent Loaf. Since
then this has been done.
'sOver the door Of the biggest gToc-
cry in washington II . sign which
says: Bread one day old two loaves
for five cents,
.eWhy do bakers want ten cent bread
made today, wher they, are gfad 70
sell Il two for . nickel tomorrow?
"Bread made from Minneapolis
flour Il being sold cheaper In Ireland
today than It 10 IN the United states.
Bread II the NAS1ing ADunt1iee y
cheaper today than Il 10 IN the Unfse1
States.
..In . recent letter to al members,
secretary J. M. Bell, Of tho Master
Bakers tells OF the increased dues for
the campaign OF education In the
same letter he calls the many bakers
who refused to Join in price boosting.
nothing less than renegades.
'Right after the Spanish-American
war a tax was placed on mixed flour,
which is corn starch or corn flour
mixed with wheat flour.
"There is a bill now In the ways
and means committee Of the house re-
,pealing this tar, which would divert
about sixty million more bushels OF
corn into the bread making market
every year. -,
every effort to report out this bill
fayorabiy is met with opposition by
the bakers and wheat millers.
'.In view Of these facts, l charge
that there is fast forming food
trust in this country that Is in q con-
spiracy to keep up the price OF bread.
plans for Relief.
WASHINGTON. Feb 23.-Some
definite plan to relieve the acute
food situation in the country may be
expected within, few days, govern
ment officials said today. Conferences
between the president, members OF
his cabinet and Acting Chairman
Denman, Of the United States ship
ping board, promised to bring con-
certed government action along diff
ferent lines, Immediately affecting
the food crisis.
Attorney General Gregory, whose
has been continually at
work for weeks on the high cost OF
living question, promised an 1mpor-
tant announcement "soon."
The federal trade commission and
department Of agriculture are maxi
ing preliminary plans while waiting
for congress to act on their 100000
before starting their
inquiry.
A wide divergence Of opinion
among congressional leaders as to
how to meet the food issue, however.
threatens to tie up this appropria-
ton. 1t even threatens to delay re-
lief measures Of any kind.
Renewed fight on the food situation
promised to develop in the house
today. Representative Boriand was
expected to reintroduce his amend
ment for the 100000 appropriation.
In the upper house, Senator Lewis,
whip, wants to push
his plan Of confiscating cold storage
products. held in violation of the
law and reselling them to the needy
Numbers of senators are known to
favor federal purchase OF great fooo
for distribution to the pub
lie "at reasonable prices"
Among those considering this plan
are Senators Borah, LaFollette and
Kenyon. In event 1t is adopted
they will urge the war department
as the distributing agency.