The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-08-01
CONGRESS AROUSED BY
PRICE SITUATION.
Army Food Distribution, an
Emergency Measure, Merely
Drop in the Bucket.
iCABINET SESSION SOON
Debated Dollar, as Well as
Inflated Price, ito Be
Investigated.
CABINET SESSION SOON
(BY JOHN EDWIN NEVlN.)

(BY JOHN EDWIN N6VIN.)
Washington, Aug. THE existing
high cost of living will be forced
down. Every available agency Of the
government now is being utilized to
attain this result.
That was the position assumed by
Il Atty Gen. A. Mitchell Palmer fol-
lowing an hours conference at the
White House executive offices today.
He discussed ways and means OF
procedure with Joseph p. TumuIty,
President Wilson's secretary, who
later placed all of the facts before
tho president. e
Atty. Gen. Palmer stated that a
committee composed OF Walker ID.
Hines, director-gene of railroads;
William b. Colver, of the federal
trade commission. and X. G. Lefting-
well, assistant to the secretary of
the treasury. today began a probe OF
the entire problem of living costs.
| This committee is utilizing all OF the
governmental agencies in placing re-
sponsibility for existing outrageous
prices of food and clothing.
: It will represent a special meeting
of cabinet officers and department
heads next Monday. Remedial meas
ures suggested then will be consid-
cred by the president and the cabi-
net on Tuesday.
Leave Nothing Undone.
The attorney. general and White
House officials declared that Presi-
dent Wilson has ordered that ncth-
! ina be left undone TO cut living costs.
Il was stated that a comprehensive
program to attain this result will be
adopted and then will be carried
through to the end.
With President Wilson, him
self squareIy behind the cam
paian to bring down the cost Of
tho necessities Of life, with con-
uress aroused to the NECESSITY OF
enaeting remedial iegislatlon;
with five cabinet members en-
listed in a co-ordinated effort TO
bring relief, and with the war
department. about ready TO dis.
tribute it's $120,o0o,00 food sur-
plus by parcel post, the belief
that there would be a sharp
break IN prices ! nthe very near
future was heid II official eir
The distribution Of the army food
was, however but an emergency
measure. The $12o. 100000 surplus
representing but a little more than
81 worth of food for every man
woman and child in the country, was
conceded to be but a drop in tho
bucket. When this has been ex-
hausted, 1t was pointed out the sit
uation ordinarily would revert 10
where it stood before the distribu-
ton. However. the temporary re-
lief, II was pointed out. would come
at time when means for effecting
permanent relief was being mapped
out by the various government agen-
cies, and might even bridge the gap.
And in the meanwhile. 1t was be-
lieved in some quarters an effort
might be made by food purveyors to
meet the governments prices.
Special Cabinet Meeting.
Another special" cabinet meeting
was to be held early next week. The
session yesterday. attended byl Sec
retaries Palmer, Glass, Houston,
Redfield and Wilson. together with
Chairman Colver, of the federal
trade commission, and Railways d.
rector Hines, was called at the d.
rect instance of President Wilson,
i was learned today authoritiveiy.
Those who attended the meeting de-
,lined today to indicate what their
plan of attacking" would be. The
irst session, they said, was more for
he purpose of conducting a survey
" the situation, preliminary to map
oing out a definite course of ac-
ion.
1t Is understood that Chairman
oliver informed the meeting that the
ederal trade commission stood ready
turn over the most extensive coll
ection Of industrial information ever
altered by any government as one
4 the weapons to be used in the
-
The mounting cost Of Twins Is/
the most important sub jset mi
the world today" said Chairman
CoIver.
There has been a steady climb
p OF prices. Wages go up to com
ensate. Wages having gone up.
osts increase and another increase
price is made, but the only result
10 force a reptition of the proc
sses.
Source Of Trouble.
"The trouble lies deeper than tn
roblem of wages VS.. food and fuel
e continued.
To begin with, such fnfation
money that the dollar is cheap as
'mpared with bread and shoes,
hen money is cheap everything
Sc, measured by it. is dear. The
gh cost of living is only another
ay Of saying the low price of
oney.'
There are other causes.
"One-third of the land of the com.
y has been held out for use f.r
eculation.
values have been written upon
ldug coal and ore; on uncut t,n,bnr
id IN land values; on the crops ar M
aFs yet TO come-in short the nl-
re value of natural resources has
en- capitalized, and todav's SUNNY
made to provide the CARRYING
arge on the production OF the ~.
re.
quite aside from these thines
ere is no doubt profiteering of
rye and small scale"
whether it is labor or commodities
ices.
The world Is sick. II is Recognized
pm the world war. which was
arly a mortal sickness. This Is
ne Tor coolness and sanity and cau-
IN. And above all. this is the time
industry and economy.
fhen. too, taxes in ever -increas-
amounts must be collected, and
she ehu taxes are a part of the
gh cost of living.
everybody now is trying to put
own prices up and complaining