The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-08-30
ERESOLVES
TO INVESTIGATE
High Cost Of Shoes At Last Gets
Through the Hogsee

through the f1ouese---
Washington, D. G. Aug. 29.-De-
spite delay and obstruction placed
in his way BY the Republican mem
bers of the House, particularly Speak
er Gillett and Floor Leader Mondell,
Representative VIM. L. Igo Demo
craft of Missouri, has finally succeed
ed in getting through the House his
resolution directing an investigation
by the Federal Trade Commission in
to the high cost of shoes.
Republicans have placed obstacles
in the resolutions way ever since it
was introduced, which was before the
Republican plan for a recess of the
House was baked by President Will
sons request that the House remain
in session and give attention to the
high cost of living problem. When
it appeared that the House was going
to recess from early in August to-
September 9, Representative leo
sought to get through a resolution
directing the shoe inquiry to be made
during the recess, in order that re-
port might be brought in Immediately
after the proposed recess.
But through the tactics of Floor
Leader MondeT and the autocraticI
rulings of Speaker Gillett, neither Mr.
Igo, former Speaker Champ Clark
nor any other Democrat was able to
get recognition on the floor of the
House in order to bring the resolution
to a vote.
At the insistence Of Mr.. Igoe, the
resolution was made to call for an in
vestigation Of shoes, only. The plan
to have it also include the price Of
clothing, sugar and coffee was op-
posed by Mr. Igoe for the reason
that an inquiry of such wide scope
would probably consume months
maybe even a year or two, and til
report thus not brought in in time to
be of any benefit in dealing with the
present emergency. He insisted that
the resolution call only for an inves-
tigation into the cause and necessity
if any, for the present high cost of
shoes, and the threatened raise of so
per cent. additional in their cost dur
ing the next few months, the FEEDER
al Trade Commission to continue an
investigation made back in 1917
through 1918 and 1919 and thus
bring it down to the present.
If the inquiry should develop that
there has been profteering in shoes.
that anybody from the maker down
to the retailer has been making un-
due profits in boots and shoes, it
would show to Congress what the
methods of those who are profiteer-
ing are and would enable Congress to
deal intelligently with the situation
In short, Mr.. Igoe urged than an in.
vestigation into one line would form
a basis on which Congress might leg
islate against all forms of profteer-
ing. Such an investigation, confined
to one thing, could be made in a very
short time, few weeks, whereas if
the Federal Trade Commission were
directed to investigate into charges
of profiteering in a half dozen lines
so much time would be consumed that
the Commissions report would come
too late to be of any help to Con-
gress in drafting legislation to meet
the present situation.
Attempts to get the resolution
through the House failed until Mr..
Igoe finally succeeded in getting ii
on the unanimous consent calendar
whence he was able to get it up for
consideration because none of the
who opposed the investi-
cation dared make objection. To
have made such objection would have
placed the objecting member on rec
ord against such in inquiry, and
when the Missouri Congressman sue
ceeded in maneuvering the members
on the other side of the Floor into
that position, he got his resolution
through.