New-York tribune., 1919-08-15
What He Is Driving At

exports.
What He Is Driving At
"What we are driving att Attorney
cultural Committee, ais to reduce the
cost of living. We are taking advan-
tage of every law on the statute books
to prosecute men who are responsible
for the present high prices.
"Expedition is the essence Of the
thing l made my recommendations
for legislative action SO simple that l
hoped they could be approved within
three days. If we only are able to pre-
vent prices going higher the market
will sag and prices ultimately will go
things get back to normal"
In spite of Mr.. Palmer's plea for ex-
pedtion, three Democratic Senators
found objection td the fact that the
amendments to penalize profteers
would make men liable 20 prosecution
without informing them in the law just
what are considered just and reason
able profits These Senators were
Georgia, and Ramsdell, Of louisiana
They said they would be compelled to
vote against the Attorney Generals
amendments if a vote were taken to-
night, and forced an adjournment until
tomorrow.
by this law you would make a man
criminal without defining his crime"
Senator Hoke Smith said.
Will Not Be in Doubt
Mr.. Palmer explained that dealers
would be left in no doubt. He told the
committee fair price committees were
being organized in all localities, and
these committees would issue fair
price lists
ANY dealer charging more than the
at then remains for jury of twelve
men to decide whether his profits
have been just and reasonable before
he is penalized. A few convictions
would have very wholesome effect on
all profteers. Most of the dealers are
not gougers. They are just as anxious
to get the gougers as we are, and they
wall help IN every way they can"
10 suggestion by Chairman
parei' might not be construed to in
clude shoes and hats, Mr.. Palmer re-
sponded:
"If you don't think those words cover
shoes and hats, for Gods sake put
those words in. l want it to include
every kind of wearing apparel, shoes
and everything else"
Senator Gronna called attention to
the fact that when the original food
control act was under consideration by
the committee it had included cotton,
wool, wearing apparel and machinery.
Little Deal in Cotton
Cotton was put in by the New Eng
landers,' Senator Smith, of Georgia,
volunteered "Then we Soutberners' rs
put in the products Of cotton and a
combination was effected whereby
both be stricken out"
Senator Smith, of South Carolina.
thought the country should be graft
fed over present high prices. It in
dicated prosperity, he said Negroes
IN the South would no longer buy bro
gans, but insisted on high priced
shoes. He challenged Mr.. Palmer to
tell him who was suffering from pres
ent high prices
the Attorney General responded NO
body with anything to sell-either la
Dor or ise-is suffering They
are getting the full worth of what they
have to dispose Of"
High prices are the greatest possi-
Bile stimulant to production" Senator
Smith of South Carolina asserted.
The thing | am alarmed about is the
injection of sumptuary laws in place
OF natural laws. 1t sets a precedent
Tor government-price stabiization in
every community
You let these profiteers 90 on"
senator Harrison. of Mississippi,
warned, "and We'll have revolution.'
Rather Revolution Than
I'D rather have revolution" Senator
Smith retorted hotly, than to have
our splendid form of government de-
stroyed."
Senator Smith, of Georgia, suggested
that excessive charges for rent were
adding to the burden the salaried man
has to bear.
81 did not include rents in nv sug-
gested amendments" Mr.. Palmer said.
because I didn't want to start an ar
gument."
The Attorney General admitted, in
response to questions. that the present
1000 control law would go out with
the ratification Of the treaty, but he
added:
Il have no doubt that Congress can
frame similar law. to accomplish the
same things, without offending against
the Constitution"
IF you could break the cost of liv
ing within sixty days." Senator Smith
suggested. you would not need new
laws"
Palmer agreed.
Mr.: Palmer said the additional ST.
100000 he asked for the "detection of
CRIME" would be used for four pur
poses. Part of the money would be
used for the detection of profteering,
some Tor the enforcement of war-timo
prohlbltion, some for hunting down
bomb plotters and other revolution
arles' ana the remainder for the gen
eral work of crime detection.