New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-19
department of Justice Will
Be Asked to Prosecute
Conspirators
Sensational Evidence
In Hands of Officials
Charge Spectators Cnuged
Allied Nations on Big
War Orders

Washington, May ls.-Sensational
.,.,ees Of nationwide combination
:, ,ood SPECTATORS. were laid before
=, nepsrtment of Agriculture to-day
- man nationally known as a large
f.od producer, and whose veraeity is
"a, questioned by officials here. The
..,rces arc supported, it is declared,
A. documentary evidence showing the
,,;s,ence Of a conspiracy to boost food
,,;e,s. Letters and afiidavits. it is said,
,.rs been laid before the Department
. Agriculture. These prove, among
,,ber things. that abnormal profits have
hen obtained by American food combi-
,,.ions in selling supplies TO the AL
les The combination is so strong, &C
,ordjns 70 the information before the
n,nsrtmcnt Of Agriculture, that the
,nsr producer must do business on its
terms or get out of the field.
The charges laid before the Depart
msnt Of Agriculture were the subject
natter Of q conference later in the
d,r with julius Rosenwald, chairman
~ the raw materials committee of the
Council Of National Defence. The up
sbo, Of the whole matter, it is believed,
xiIl be disclosures which will compel
,he elimination Of some of the useless
machinery Of distribution. said TO be
r,,ronsible for a large percentage Of
the existing abnormal prices.
Prosecution To Be Asked
The Department Of Justice will re-
,eiye tomorrow copies of the evidence
presented TO the officials Of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture, and will be asked
70 take action in the matter.
George ". Anderson, United States
attorney at Boston and special sist-
Ant 70 Attorney General Gregory in CO
erdinstion OF food Investigations, sp-
ptsred to-day before the House Agrl-
sulture Committee in connection with
the Administration food control bill
and with great emphasis made this
statement:
Asorethinc must be done. That
sseial and political upheaval is threat
ned cannot be denied or disregarded.
lee the signs of il. Any one with his
car to the ground knows it. There
r1be phenomenon in America incon-
ss,ent with law and order unless
smething is done TO prevent II.
Mr.. Anderson advocated legislation
&c authorize the fixing Of maximum
price for food. fixing that maximum at
q liberal range above what might be
called a reasonable price in order to
allow play for supply and demand. He
said MS mind was open as to the t1xlng
OF minimum guarantee TO the producer.
He said the government should be en-
powered TO break up corners In pota-
toes, eggs, onions and other staples by
authority to seize and market por-
ton Of the products held by hoarders
or unfair traders.
Storage Men Hide Facts
Mr.. Anderson complained that the
government is powerless under the
present law 70 ascertain just what is
held in the storage reservoirs OF the
food supply.
Mr.. Anderson said he and his assist
ants had found IL 1SDosSlDle 10 learn
what food supplies were held ir stor-
age in New York. CNicago. Boston, Du-
luth and other cities. until witnesses
we're brought before tine grand jury and
examined. The delay caused thereby
rave opportunity of shifting stocks or
otherwise destroying evidence of law
violation. He urged Congress TO give
the Department of Agriculture authori-
~ TO ascertain what stocks are held
IN storage A large part of his work.
he said. had been wasted because OF
lack OF any such authority.
Chairman Lever explained that his
bill, now the pending unfinished bust
ness Of the House, provides such au-
thority.
When potatoes, egFS and onions are
beng held in too ia--~ quantities and
there probably is combination in re-
siraint Of trade" NO said, "the Attor-
ney General should be authorized TO
seize and marset c.-t of them and
have condemnation proceedings. The
mere threat TO so act probably would
be enough 70 make the hoarder or cor
nerer not repeat the offence. With
that authority the government can
break any corner"