The sun., 1919-08-13
President, Through Secre-
tary Glass, Urges $4,000
Additional Grant. r
CONGRESS TO ACT SOON
Slehths Employed by Food
Administration Will Be
Put to Work.
NEW CURES PROPOSED
Fess, Republican Leader,
Scores Administration
Farmers Protest.
NEW CURES PROPOSED
.Specinl Despatch 10 TIE suN.

Special Despatch TO THE Sun.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 12.-President
Wilson to-day asked Congress for au-
thority to use the Secret Service
agents in uncovering food boards and
evidence to prosecute prof
iteers in all necessities of life.
The Secret Service will be used In
addition to the Department of Justice
operatives, and for the work the Pres-
ident asked Congress to make $4,000
additional funds Immediately available.
The Federal trade commission also
asked Congress for 100000 to carry
OF, its investigation of high prices and
to inform the people of cost figures OF
all commodities. The estimate indi-
Gates the commission will soon begin
wide campaign Of publicity to I'm
form the public what is a fair price
for necessities.
These requests, which indicate at
least determined effort on the part
OF the executive departments to pun
ish prof1teers and thus reduce the cost
of living, were the first estimates OF
additional funds needed that Congress
has received since President Wilson in
his address said more money must be
appropriated to carry On the reduction
programme. Republican leaders have
promised prompt action on all such
estimates.
'ln transmitting the Presidents re-
quest Secretary of the Treasury Glass.
who has charge of the secret service,
explained that additional authority was
needed to use this branch in hunting
food boards since a clause granting the
President power to use the service as
he saw At during an emergency was
omitted from the sundry civil act for
the present fiscal year.
Agents Well Equipped.
The letter of Secretary Glass, unlike
other estimates. bore the specific ap-
proval of the President in his hand
writing. 1t follows;
ne cooperation tne secret SER
vice has been asked in the campaign
to be waged against food hoarders
and profiteers because these secret
service agents were employed as the
investigating force of the Food Ad-
ministration during the fiscal years
1918 and 1919 and are therefore es-
pecially equipped to render valuable
service now.
This aid cannot be extended now
because the clause authorizing the
President to direct, without reference
TO existing limitations. the use OF se-
cret service agents was omitted from
the sundry civil bill passed recently
and for the additional reason that
the appropriation which sustains the
field operations of the service is in
adequate.
! therefore beg 10 amend the esti-
mate Of a deficiency in the appro-
pration for the service submitted
with my letter of July 2S, 1919, by
increasing the amount asked for to
sl75.000 and the inclusion OF the
clause:
TO provide, further, that until
June 80. 1920, the President is au-
thorized to direct without reference
to existing limitations the use Of
persons employed hereunder IL In his
requires such action"
1t is respectfully urged that this
request receive immediate attention
in order that the services OF these
agents may become available as soon
as possible. Respectfully.
CARTER GLASS"
Approved, Woodrow Wilson.
Secretary Glass, In the estimate o.
July 2S referred to, had asked for 3l2k,.
! 600 to be used in the regular work Of
the secret service to meet increased exi
| penses, thus leaving $4,000 to be used
in running down hoarders and profiteers
| The letter was referred to the Appro4
priations Committee by Speaker Gillett
Victor Murdock, acting chairman oi
the Federal Trade Commission, ex-
planned the need for the $500. 900 to BE-
used IN investigation and publicity worn
as follows;
For all expenses necessary in connec-
ton with the collection of Information
as may be directed by the President OF
tho United States or Congress or withig
the scope OF Its powers regarding the
| production, ownership, manufacture
storage and distribution of foodstuffs a
other necessities. and the products oi
! byproducts arising from or in conneo
| tiop with the manufacture or preparaI
| ton thereof, together with figures o.
cost and wholesale and retail prices. tn,
said amount is appropriated to remait
available until expended"
House Makes Other Moves.
! Other definite moves in the House ID
bring down prices were bills introduced
by Representatives Gard COhio) and
! Goodykoontz (W. Va,), both designed 4
prevent boarding and prohteering and
ind some real remedy for the present
situation. Senator Mcclellan (Tenn. J
appeared before the House Agricultural
Committee and urged favorable report
on his bill to force food out OF the cold
storage warehouses after a certain period
and otherwise regulate them. Repre-.
sentative Fess (Ohio). on the floor oi
the House, urged immediate action Il
bring down prices.