South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-23
Plenty of Talk of Federal Re-
lief of Food Shortage
But Cooperation is
Still Lacking.
LEADERS TO REFUSE
100000 FOR PROBE
One Faction Would ApprO-
pirate Fifty Millions For
Relief - Empty Cars
Moving Westward.
International News Service


WASHINGTON. Feb. 2S.-No real
federal relief for the high cost Of
living IS I'm sight There is plenty
OF talk I'm government circles. But
SO far there has not been the slight
est evidence Of cooperation among
the various government departments
to- get action that would count AS
"a result the situation continues
extremely menacing. andthe POSSIBLE
ity of nationwide rioting. because
cf the agitation In the several indus
trial centers is increasing.
Congressional leaders fatty say
they viii not give the federal trade
commission 100000 for nation
wide probe They publicly declare
they have no confidence i'm that
body Instead of being greater than
the interstate commerce commits
sion they insist that it's record since
70 was created is utterly negligible.
10 has not "a compete record Of per
formance in q single investigation.
they claim. and they cite the oil and
gasoline Situation where the in
vestigation continues i'm the prelim-
mary stage as proof.
Members OF the commission. re-
seutful of this criticism. say there
viii De nothing doing I'm the investi-
cation line unless the cash is forth
coming But even the influence OF
the white house is unlikely Co get
the money for the trade commission.
Much Money is Needed.
The departments of justice and
agriculture are doing the best they
can with the forces at their disposal,
their officials say They also claim
chat much money Is needed 10y them
to get q real Investigation.
Meanwhile on Capitol hill the
senators and representatives are ut
tcrIy divided as Co what the nation
should 30 for the relief of it's mill
lions who actually. are nearly ~tarv-
ing.
one element iu the senate. Of
which Sen. Borah of Idaho is the
.pokesmau wants to appropriate
$50. Geo. GOO in lump sum TO buy
food and distribute 1t either at cost
on less Another element wants the
interstate commerce comm ission en-
l7rged and its powers made much
.reate~ still another element de-
sfres "a congressional investigation Co
Doe followed 10y am extra session of
congress 20 enact legislation 20 meet
the situation.
And. then the largest faction ir
tho house. which includes democrats
and republicans alike insist that
there are plenty Of laws available "a
meet the situation and blame the
departmeut Of Justice FOR its failure
20 act They saw that If the de-
partment viii cooperate with the
legal heads Of the several states q
series Of prosecutions under botf
federal and state laws can he under
taken which viii send many conspir
ators 20 prison and bring food prices
down with a rush.
Fmptics Started West.
AZ the interstate commerce com
mission inspired statements claim
fnr relief is in sight are being IS
sued Great stress was placed or
the fact that solid trains of emptie'
we're started west Yesterday takin.
advantage or the fohNtN ei'A tli"
hese cars viii shortly he dlled an'
DO ON their way back east Traits
EXPERTS who aualyze the figures
available say that they take toe
much for granted. Under the system
of distribution the ears now enrout'
west will not even furnish nor
mai supplies OF food. coal and th'
Ike 10 they are AN used for thes'
commodities which seems unlikely
in view ~ the large amount OF everl
class OF freight that is waiting q
Doe transported eastward. these eN
perts say
Until the thousands Of loaded
cars which du every siding Of The
great eastern terminals are unload
"a and sent back into service D
would seem 90 be impossible 60 guar
antce any real relief from the short
age 81 supplies OF all kinds in th'
larger centers OF population.