The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-08-15
Grocer Pays $500 for Selling
Sugar at Fifteen Cents a
Pound in Binghamton.
WILL SETTLE THE TROUBLE
Attorney General Palmer SAYS a
Few Such Convictions in Each
State Will Put a Stop to the
Practice.

Washington, Aug. 13.-Important
new developments in the governments
fight to reduce the high cost of living
came today
One Of the most interesting was the
announcement by Attorney General
Palmer that the first federal convic-
tion for profteering had been oh
tanned, District Attorney Lucey tele-
graphed from Binghamton, n. Y
that retail grocer had been fined
$500 for selling sugar at Is cents q
pound. No details were given and
the law under which the case was
brought was not known here
"A few good cases OF profteering
in each state will settle that trouble"
Mr.. Palmer remarked
To Include Clothing.
In order to bring to book persons
guilty of raising prices eXorbitantly
or boarding food to advance prices.
Mr. Palmer submitted to the agricul-
tural committees of congress the
draft of an amendment to the food
control act extending it's provisions to,
clothing and containers of foods and
feeds, and providing a penalty OF
$4,000 fine or two years imprison-
ment or both for violation Of the law.
Chairman Haughen of the house
committee announced that the amend
ment would be considered immediate
ly by a subcommittee and that a re-
port might be made tomorrow.
1t is Mr. Palmer's idea that this
amendment should be considered be-
fore taking up other amendment sug~
gested by President Wilson to extend
the effective life of the food control
act beyond the war period.
The Sinews of War.
Three cabinet officials asked speciaI
appropriations from congress for the.
campaign against inflated prices. Sec
retary Redfield requested 100000
for the work of the bureau of stand
ards in assuring full weight and
measures and of the bureau of fish
Secretary Wilson asked $475,O0O for
the employment OF special agents and
others and Mr.. Palmer requested ST.
100000 for the bureau of inyestipa
tions and for the expenses of state
tood administrators assisting the De-
partment OF Justice. Another 5000
OO0 was asked for antitrust suits, es-
pecially that against the big five pack
ing companies. The attorney general
also wants 100000 for other work
OF the department, not directly con-
nected with the living problem. such
as the enforcement of war time pro-
hibition. prosecution of appeals and
hiring of special assistants.
"Cut Red Tape"
Psked today if he had any reports
indicating sufficient food held in stor-
age to affect prices materially if re-
leased Mr.. Palmer revealed that a
number of governors had appealed to-
him to cut red tape" in forcing orr
the market amazing quantities" OF
focdstuffs now in storage. In some
cases, ii was said, the food has been
held longer than permitted by state
laws. but technicalities regarding in
terstate commerce have presented
the governors from undertaking sei5-
ure or prosecution. Mr.. Palmer or
dered all district attorneys to assist
the governors.
Reports of excessive stocks of food
held in storage have been received
from at least six states, the attorney
general said. He declined 20 be more
specific, but it was indicated thar
New Jersey was one of the states
Storage Conditions.
Storage conditions are also engar-
ing the attention Of the state food ad-
ministrators, several of whom have.
asked if they were authorized to pub
lish the facts where it appeared that
more food was being held from the
public than the reasonable require
ments of dealer demanded.
Il told them to go right ahead ana
to use the names" Mr.. Palmer an
nounced decisively. Il am Interested
in getting as much information on