Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-08-08
REPORT Of FEDERAL
TRADE Commission
INDICATES BOARDING
Prices Advance Despite 20
Per Cent Increase in Food
Stocks = Wilson Directs
Fight on Living Costs

WASHlNGION, Aug. Tine gov
ernment's case against the five big
packers will be placed before the
federal grand jury which meets at
Chicago three weeks hence. This
means that criminal prosecution Will
be instituted.
Charles F. Clyne. federal district
attorney at Chicago, said today that
besides asking indictments under the
criminal sections of the Sherman
antitrust law. civil suits would be
brought under that statute and that
in addition the packers would be
prosecuted under the food control act
on charges of boarding.
Mr.. Clyne has been in Washington
for several days comforting with At
torney General Palmer and George
R. Williams, who prosecuted the oil
trust cases. The three officials have
been sitting the evidence gathered
against the packers by the federal
trade commission.
Four hundred different branches of
the industry, as conducted by the
packers, Mr.. Clyde said, are being
dealt with by the department of JUS
tice.
Packer Makes Statement
Thomas E. wilson, president of
Wilson & Co., one of the packing
firms, today made the following
statement:
"In view of statements credited to
me in commenting upon the action
of Attorney General Palmer in d.
recting action against the meat pack
ers, l wish to correct certain mis-
statements regarding that action. l
made no statement to the effect that
the department of justice would get
no satisfaction from the packers.
Such position is not in keeping with
my disposition nor that of Wilson
& Go.
size too strongly that the department
of justice will have the fullest CO.
operation from US. I am perfectly
willing to submit the entire PROPOSE
ton to them and am not fearful as
to results when the full story is
known"
Trade Commission Report e
Although prices of practically all
stantial increase during the last year,
stocks of food held in storage on June
1 this year were approximate 20
per cent greater than those held on
June 1, 1918. according to memor-
andum showing the relation between
day by the federal trade commission
Government stocks were excluded
from the comparison.
1.-The fact that stocks of many i'm
portant foods were much larger on
June this year than on the same
date last year. said the. commits
sion's statement, while prices were
as high or higher, apparently means
that they are being withheld specu-
lativelY for a world demand which is
not now here. but which is expected
when hunger-impelled strikes secure
higher wages with which higher food
prices can be paid"
To show that the claw Of supply
and demand is not working" the
commission listed eight staple foods
which on June 1 showed an increase
in stocks withheld from the market
stocks on June 1, 1918, and in, each
instance there was shown to have
been a substantial advance in the
wholesale price during that period.
2sa Per Cent Increase
Stocks of frozen fowls showed
maximum increase of 29S per cent
and the price, despite this fact. In
creased three cents a pound. Wheat
stocks showed an increase of ia per
cent, with an increase in price OF
thirty one cents; -four stocks, an in
crease of q per cent with an in
crease in the price per barrel OF
nearly SO; egg stocks, an increase of
9.S per cent, with an increase in price
of II cents. and butter stocks an in
soaring II cents above last years
figure.
Salt beef. canned salmon and can
ned corn completed the items in this
able. the lattr showing an increase
# 81 per cent in stocks with an in
,rease in price.
All dry storage stocks, according
TO the commissions figures, showed
IN average increase of 124 per cent.
Of these not listed in the above
table, stocks of rye increased BAG per
cent, barley 207 per cent, buckwheat
nd
natoes 202 per cent.
Increase in other cold storage
stocks were shown as follows: Cured
beef, 103 per cent; frozen lamb and
mutton, 81 per cent; frozen pork, 20
per cent, and picked pork, 10 per
cent