The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-24
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Regulate Instead of Investigate

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 few days ago Attorney General Gregory, after an extensive investiga- ton" into the high cost of living, ad- vised Senator Borah that mo evidence had been found, except in two or three cases, to warrant the federal govern ment in seeking indictments in it's in- vestigation of the rising cost of iving'
 He also further stated that the sale of foodstuffs by retailers to consumers orally falls outside the jurisdiction of the federal government; and increases brought about by a common selfish im- pulse of traders to take advantage of the extraordinary condition of the times are not punishable under any existing federal law, no matter how completely lacking in economic justification, no mat ter how extort,onate."
 Now that's funny The Attorney Gen. eral had to make an extensive investi- gation" to discover that grub" is al- ready up. soon will be upper, and even- tually uppermost; while l found it out by simply calling at the corner store. And my investigation" while not quite so extensive, is just as satisfactory to me as his is to the nation.
 He offers no relief; but to the con trary confesses that under existing laws we are hopelessly helpless. So why investigate if there is no remedy? The diagnosis of a disease does not cure the disease; but an effective preventive will eliminate the necessity of diagno- sis And still our President has been asking Congress for an approprition of $400,000 for investigations of the high cost of living,' while under existing laws" if Congress should appropriate every dollar in the treasury for that pur- pose, we would get no relief
 How could we get relief without rem edy? One man in Chicago is now hold- ing 15,00O cars or 100000 bushels of po- tatoes. He is called a king, not an op pressor; not an extortioner on the neces- sities of human life! But king! He says he is willing to sell his potatoes any time at fair profit.
 We'll what is flair profit@' Is this king capa ble of saying while he holds possession? It is said that possession is nine points in law" and it is evidently about the same in profits. In determn- ing fair profits, would he not likely be governed by the demand effected by his own willful act of accommodating the necessities of life to his own control? Is there anyone who has so little common sense as to believe that this potato king has accumulated a million bush els in order that he might deal fairly with his fellow man? Why would he buy of one commodity in such quantities un- less it was to take advantage of sit uation that would enahle him to exact extortionate profits, instead of fair profts?"
 But why abuse him? He is only doing that which we all have legal' right to do-get control of everything in sight and then be boss" Of course, the mere fact that one man is physically stronger than another, does not give him even the legal" right to choke the weaker to death But according 70 law, he does Hhave the right, provided he is financially strong enough, to starve the whole na- tion; even though he may demand what he terms only flair profits.
 Profit is the difference between the cost-consisting of the purchase, car riage and storage of an article-and the