Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-01
FOOD SPECTATORS
WITHIN THE LAW
Atty..Gen. Gregory Reports Evi
dencc Does Not Warrant
Federal Indictments.
TWO OR 3 EXCEPTIONS.
Common Selfish Impulse Of Traders
Take Advantase Of Times Mikes
Prices High.

washington. Feb. N.--Attorney C aneraI
Gregory to-day advised Senator Borai|
that no evidence had been found up to thu
present time, except in two or three cases
10 warrant the federal government Id
cooking indictments In its investigation
OF the rising cost Of living.
The sale OF foodstuffs by retailers I'd
consumcro In various cities and communal
ties, the attcrney-general stated. generl
ally falls outside the jurisdiction of th(
federal government, and increased
Thought about by "a common selfish lind
pulse Of traders to take advantage Of th{
extraordinary condition Of the times ard
not punishable under any existing fedI
cral law. no matter how completely lackI
ing in. economic publication. no MATED
how cxtor:ionate."
possible remedy, the attorney general
SAID. might be making by legislation ''th@
charging Of cztortiona:c prices in ln.erI
state commerce an offense per SO, all
though not The result Of either conspiracy
or monopoly"
Mr.. Gregory presented his views IN !
long letter to the Idaho senator who ID
the author OF a pending bill to appropriate
100000 for relief of sufferers From th@
high cost Of living.
One OF his suggestions was as I'd
whether the produce exchanges and stocJ
yar!s of the country should be placed
under much closer governmental scrutiny
and regulation than now PREVAILS
without stopping now to inquire" th(
letter said, "how far the federal govern
ment could directly regulate such ex
changes, 1t could doubtless accomplish
the same objects by prescribing thu
conditions under which they should b
permitted to use the mails, the telegraph
and other instrumentalities of interstate
communication in carrying on their bust
ness"
Associations existing in almost ever
branch of trade. the attorney-general con
tinued. while performing some very use
full functions "also in many instance,
make their influence felt in maintaining
prices in such a subtle and intangible way
however. that it is impossible to convic'
them of violating the law" The leniency
OF federal judges in imposing sentence
upon those convicted of violating the anti
trust law, in some instances, was cited
Mr.. Gregory declaring that "a number o.
federal judges always have been and ar,
still apparently reluctant to enforce tn,
| Sherman act
| Largely because of the short time We
remaining OF the present session of Con
gress. it was said. no legislation embody
ing the departments view had been pre-
pared or was contemplated at present.
! Accommodations of loaded cars Februar.
II. made public to-day. showed a Sigh
diminution. the total being placed at 16S.
1876. approximately $500 less than a weeI
before. The car service commission. il
making public the figures. announced tina
reports received up TO the present tim
show that progress is being made II
forcing freight cars to sections where tn,
shortage is most acute"
The car service commission also an
nounced that it had requested the rail
roads ito see to it that a sufficient mum
Der Of cars are provided for hauling seed
for spring planting