South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-26
Reports Reaching the Depart
nent of Agriculture Show
Figures Are Below Those
OF Last Wednesday.
RELIEF NOT TO CALL
HALT TO PROSECUTIONS
All Federal Attorneys Are In
StruCted to Begin Proceed
ingS at 0nCe-Fitzger-
aid Keeps up Fight.
international News Service /:

International News Service.
WASHINGTON. Feb 20 - An
unplanned but well enforced nation
wide boycott by consumers already
Is reducing the prices Of food stufts.
This is in spite of the fact that no
action yet has been taken against
apeculators by state or federal au-
thorities
Reports reaching the department
of agriculture today indicate that
potatoes and onions, leaders in the
"skyWard movement. are quoted
in the larger cities today at a less
figure than ON last Wednesday when
the situation became NEST acute. IL
also. is reported by the agents of the
department that the market every
where hes absolutely fallen fiat as
result of the general understanding
10y the consumers I'm consequence
many wholesalers. loaded 20 the
guards with food stuhs of all sorts,
which thev have been holding' for
higher prices are said TO be anxious
to unload before spring food stuffs
are i'm sight from the south and tbs
Pacific coast
Relief Not Permanent
10 was stated officially. however
that the relief was not probable of
permanent nature. and that it will
i'm no way check the operations of
the department OF justice. That
body is continuing It's Investigations
with a view To criminal prosecu-
tious which nave been promised by
Atty. Gen Gregory. All federal at
torneys throughout the country
have been instructed 20 prosecute
violations. evidence of which is in
their possession, without delay. And
IL this evidence can be used 20 bet
ter advantage i'm state courts, they
have been authorized TO turn IL over
10 lOcaS officials The position of the
administration i'm the present crisis
- declared 20 Ice that few convic-
lions with jail sentences would send
prices umbhug down.
Chairman John J. Fitzgerald OF
the house appropriations committee
has not abandoned his fight against
an appropriation of 100000 urged
bv Pres't Wilson for an INVESTIGATION
81 the high cost OF living 10y the fed
eral trade commission. He was to-
day lining up democrats 10 vote
against the Borland amendment TO
provide for the food inquiry when
the sundry civil hil comes up on its
final passage. insisting that such an
Investigation would be useless.
Victory Only Temporary.
Rep. Borlard scored only a tenn
oorary victory Saturday night when
the house i'm committee of the whole
voted S3 To 81 10 adopt his amend
mert giving the trade commission
almost half a million dollars and
more than half a years line 10 ind
out N food corporations are violat-
ing the antitrust laws.
When Rep Fitzgerald renews his
light against ,.e Borland amend
ment he will have first the solid
support OF the democratic members
OF y York This will be the first
oppor, qity the delegation has had 10
carry or action 10 determined upon
W. its caut s. of more than a month
Ago A. th time the New York
dt mocrats as I'd upon a program
calling for "A uh vote on any meas
IRE affecting the neral welfare OF
their G. lstituents.