Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-08-11
RETAIL DEALERS
UNDER SCRUTINY
OF UNCLE sam
Palmer Starts Out to Learn
How Much High Cost Of
Living Due to Excess
sive Charges.
Continued from Page One.)

Confined from Page One.)
to summon witnesses or fix prices.
1t is requested, however, to ascer-
tain the cost prices, determine a
fair margin of profit and If retail
prices are in excess of what the COM
nittee regards a fair price, to have
published its list of fair prices, re-
porting to you for review, You are
requested to report to the Depart
nlcnt of Justice a general review of
the situation in your state.
Want Evidence Turned In.
".Any evidence of boarding or
other. violations of the food control
act which may be developed in the
work of such committees should be
turned over 10 the United States at
torney, who will be instructed to
employ all his resources as we'll as
those Of the bureau of investiga-
ton to cooperate with you and your
committees in seeking out and pun
ishing all violatots of the law.
"There is a pressing necessity for
the restoration Of normal conditions
and it is believed that through the
same organization which you had
as federal food administrator you
and your county administrators, to-
gether with their appointees, can
render a valuable service to the
country at this time, and your CO.
operation and theirs, without COM
pensation, will be greatly appreciat-
ed. The widest publicity OF this
movement and the results obtai ned
by the county committees, it is be-
1ieved, will be an important factor
in its success. Please wire whether
the government can count upon yow
active cooperation"
Congress to Start In.
Congress tomorrow begins actual
consideration of high cost Of living
problems. Plans have been made
by leaders for Immediate considera-
ton, of the legislative recommends
tiohs made by President Wilson in
his address, and the cost of living
question promises this week to over
shadow even the peace treaty and
many other important affairs at the
capitol.
Work for several days will be in
the hands =. of committees. The
house agriculture committee will
take upt,a bill for government reg
ulation of cold storage facilities and
Chairman Cummins of the senate in
terstate commerce committee, is ex-
.pected to announce a special sub
committee to consider the presl--
dents proposals for regulation of
foodstuffs entering interstate COM
MERGE. including federal licensing
Of iAterstate corporations, Tuesday
theIe senate agriculture committee
meets to6consider the wheat price
question, extension of the food con-
trollaw and other similar que stions.
Chairman. Gronna and National
Graage leaders 'lplan a statement
carly this week giving the farmers
side Of problems now under discus
sion. All senators from agricultural
states have been invited to the meet
ing Tuesday.
Railroad Bill Hearing.
With jurisdiction over the rail-
road brotherhoods' demands for in
creased wages to meet living costs
shifted from congress to the presi-
dent and director general of rail-
roads, the house interstate COM
meree committee tomorrow will re-
sumo hearings on the organized la
boris railroad bill. Glenn E. Plumb,
author of the measure, is expected
to conclude his statement tomorrow
and will be followed by A. B. Gar
retson, chief of the conductors
Brotherhood. Other advocates of
the Plumb plan and opponents will
be heard later,
Spirited debate on the high cost
OF living questions is expected in
the senate tomorrow. Senator Reed,
Missouri, and Mcclellan, Tennessee,
democrats, have announced ad-
dresses on the subject and others
are In preparation.
Treaties Not Eclipsed.
The peace treaty and league of
nations, however, are not to go into
total eclipse in the senate.
Republican Leader Lodge Tues
day will deliver an extensive analy-
sis OF international problems and
other speeches are to follow. Sec
rotary Lansing tomorrow will re-