The Sentinel=record., 1917-02-24
RAILROADS INSIST THEY
 ARE NOT TN BLAME
Senator Lewis Introduced An Amend. ment to the Revenue Bill Authoriz- ing the President to Seize Any Food stutfs Which He May Believe to Be Held By Monopoly,

Washington, Feb. 23.--The soaring cost of foodstuffs throughout the country today engaged the attention of virtually every governmental agency with even a remote relation to the problem.
 President Wilson and the cabinet discussed the situation from many angles, it's cause and possible reme- dies. Views held by some of the con. terees were that the record prtces were intertwined with the general car shortage and indirectly affected by tho German submarine warfare which has resulted in vast accumulations on freight aad resultant car congestion al eastern seaports.
 Department of justice agents resum ed with new energy their Investigation of prices to determine if there is an actual shortage of foodstuffs at large cities where rioting has occurred At torney General Gregory announced, that measures which may be of con siderable avail" toward bettering that situation probably would be announc. ed shortly
 The Interstate Comm cree Commits sion announced tho transportation west of many trains of empties. chief iy for relief at Chicago and was re- ported to be satisfied that the gigantic task of restoring conditions to normal was progressing as speedily as might be eXpe cted.
 The car service commission of the American Railway Association the railroads supreme conrt in all subjects affecting shortage and congestion dis claimed all responsibility on behalf of the reads for contribution to the rise through failure to furnish trausporta' ton facilities and announced that at no time had any complaint been re- ceived which would indicate that there was a shortage of food anywhere in the country.
 The newly created shipping board submitted to the president a plan TOT relief by placing American vessels in the coast to coast trade, thus releas- ing freight cars required for transcon.
 tinental traffic. A large merchant marine which could be used for this duty sailing by way of the Panama canal would be available on the pas sage by congress of amendments to
 the shipping bill now pending. In congress Senator Lewis introduc- ed an amendment to the revenue bill authorizing the president to seize any | foodstuffs which he may believe to be held by monopoly or for "an unjust increase in price" and dispose of them through public sale st prices to be fix ed by the department authorized to conduct the sale.
 Senator Maritime introduced a bill which would empower the presiden;
 to declare an embargo on the export
 of foodstuffs.
 Heads of the departments of agri- | culture and commerce announced that 1 they were using a' means within their power to ameliorate conditions, At the department of agriculture state ment was issued urging that the pro posed nationwide investigation which the president wants the federal trade commission and the department to
 canduct to be made possible at once by congress
 Wide diversity of opinion as to the cause of advancing prices was mani tested by expressions from the various 1 agencies concerned, Interstate Com
 merce Commission officials are under stood to believe that the relation be- tween the car shortage and conges- tion and the rise in prices is eompar- atively slight.
 Eventually all agencies agreed that
 the food supply in the country IS an,ples to meet all needs and that tho question is largely one of distribution and Conversation.