The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-03-01
u, 5. PREPARED TO
PROBE FOOD PRICES
Trade Body Gathers Data and
viii Begin Work Soon.
TO WAIT FOR APPROPRIATION
Congress Expected by Administration
Leaders to Grant 100000 Asked
BY the President-Seek Cause
of Advances.

I Washington, Feb. 2G-Presldent vii.
sons plan for AN investigation of the
food situation awaits only the decision
of congress 10 set aside sufficient
money TO carry it out.
All the machinery of the federal
trade commission is in readiness tc
investigate the shortage and the adj
vanceS in the price of staples.
The moment the money is voted,
agents and experts Of the commission
will institute what is expected to be
the most sweeping inquiry this country
has known.
Plan of Inquiry Ready.
A comprehensive plan for the in
vestigaton is in the hands of the com
missioners. This contemplates o
thorough inquiry Into: T..
/. Live stock and meat products.
2. Poultry, butter, eggs and other
dairy products.
3. Fresh and canned fruits and
vegetables. 81
4. Fish and seafood of other kinds.
5. Grain, cereals and other milling
products.
The commission intends, If author
ized by congress, to investigate every
phase of the production, marketing
and transportation of these articles
of food.
Seek Cause of Advances.
Everything that may tend to shed
light on the causes of the prevailing
high prices for any and all of these
products will be gone into. Producers,
shippers, canners, packers and deal.
ers will be required to tell the reasons
for the high prices.
1t is also the purpose of the com.
mission TO hold its hearings in the
open. The representatives of the big
packing and shipping interests will be
required to give. their testimony in
public, so the entire country may
know where the blame for the increase
In prices may lie. The commission in.
tends TO proceed upon the theory that
everything connected With the dealing
and trading andi fixing Of prices fol
food should be made known without
any reservation. ..,
Inquiry Already Started.
Preliminary Investigation by agents
of the commission had already been
begun along these lines. Aroused by
the extortionat6' prices charged for
articles chiefly in demand by people
of small means, such as potatoes,
onions and cabbage, which led to the
food riots in New York and other
cities, the commissions agents went to
work to inquire into the situation
with respect to these products.
They are collecting and putting TO.
gcther the data they have obtained,
This work will be carried on in Il
tentative way until money for the
larger Investigation has been received
1t has been the experience Of these
agents thus far That the dealers are
willing to cooperate with them. Loyal
market men have given the agents n
lot of data which will he of assistance
TO them as the investigation pro.
ceeds.
1t is believed by administration lead.
ers that the 100000 asked for by the
trade commission will be voted by con.
gress before the present session nd.
jOurns.
A majority of the house agreed to
incorporate the appropriation in the
sundry civil bill, which will be passed
by the house probably by Tuesday,
The bill then goes to the senate whers
It is understood there will be no for
midable opposition.
Congressman Borland of Missouri
who obtained adoption Of the arpro.
priation in the house measure, said he
is confident the bill will go through
both houses.
House Passes Bill.
An amendment to the sundry civil
bill appropriating 100000 for an in
yestigatlon by the federal trade com
mission of the high cost of food, passed
the house on Saturday night, SO to 81.
Railroad and interstate commerce
commission officials here said that the
car situation had been much Improved
in the last "a hours.
Talk of food famine in various
parts of the United States has died
down for the tine being and every ef-
fort is being made 10 bring up the re.
serve supplies of food insthe East and
In New England from which the com
81 Il -