The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-09
CONGRESS IS
PREPARED TO
ACT QUICKLY
UPON H. c. |.
Mondell Says Legislation Will
be Enacted at Once-Presi-
dent to Take Domestic
Problems to People.
ACTION IS STIMULATED
(By Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, Aug. o. Republi-
can Leader Mondell declared In the
house today that congress was ready
to act promptly on such legislation as
was needed to carry out the sugges-
tions made yesterday by President
Wilson to reduce the high cost OF
living
Further appropriations suggested by
the president will be made quickly.
Mr. Mondell said
Congress stands ready to consider
any estimate" declared the Republican
leader, and hopes such estimates as
are necessary and essential will be
submitted to congress as promptly as
possible" In regard to legislation Mr.
Mondell said some of it would be en-
acted promptly while that affecting
profoundly the policy Of the govern.
ment" would be debated. All would
receive the active and quick consid-
Grafton Of the house, he said.
Suggestions Debated.
Domestic problems now facing the
country may be taken up directly with
the people by President Wilson during
his forthcoming trip in the interests
Of the peace treaty. This was indicat.
ed today at the White House where
1t also was said plans for the presi-
dents tour were going forward.
Suggestion by the President for
federal licensing Of all corporations
engaged in Interstate commerce and
for extension of the food control law.
met with the greatest opposition in
Congressional circles. Many of the
opponents of the league Of nations in
the Senate critized the stress laid by
the president on early ratification OF
the peace treaty. some of them includ.
ing Chairman Lodge and Senator
Harding, Ohio, of the foreign rela
tions committee. declaring there was
no connection between ratification of
the peace treaty and the cost of liv-
ing.
The references in the address to the
attitude of labor leaders and the ex-
pected belief that those leaders would
yield soon to second sober thought.
were approved generally by members
Of both parties.
speeIal Agents Help.
Beyond extension Of the powers of
the food control act, regulation Of
the storage of toodstuffs, and early
ratification Of the peace treaty, 50 as
to allow the law Of supply and de-
mand to oporeate, the President urged
legislation for the control Of security
| issues and additional appropriations
for government agencies to supply the
public with information as to prices
paid by retailers for goods. The food
control act, he told Congress, should
be extended to peace times with its
application covering clothing, fuel and
other necessities of life as we'll as
food, and a penalty for boarding in
serted
All special agents of the department
of justice over the country have been
ordered to assist the district attorney
in uncovering evidence Of profiteering
In food stuffs and other necessities.
Attorney-General Palmers instruc-
tions were that the special agents
should drop everything but the most
pressing cases now pending, and de-
vote entire attention to assisting In
the campaign to reduce the cost of
living. The result will be to put hun
dreds Of trained Investigators In the
search Tor men who have inflated
prices exorbftantly.