The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-05
RECOMMENDATIONS
TO PRESIDENT FOR
| LOWERING PRICES
| TO Be MADE SOON
Interest of President in Sit.
uation Indicated by Long
Conference Yesterday
With Members of the
Trade Commission

Washington, August A.
Recommendations to President
Wilson as to how the govern
ment should proceed in its eff
forts to lower the cost of liv-
ing are expected to result from
hthe second meeting tomorrow
xf cabinet members and OTIS
aofficials called into conferenc :.
by Attorney General Palmer.
There still was no indication tonight
rcf how the conference would view the
wroblem. Director General of Railroads
Wines Assistant Secretary of the Treas
AIRY Leffingwell and Chairman Coiver of
xhe federal trade commission. appointed
N committee to present suggestions to the
frDnference, have been engaged in an
exchange of memoranda, bat it was said
enthusiastically that they had reached no
slecision as to what steps should be
Haken.
That President Wilson was taking
deep interest in the situation was indi-
Gated again late today when without an
nouncement he called at the offices of
the federal trade commission and held
lengthy conference with Chairman Colver
and Commissioner Murdoch. Neither OF
the Il, commission members would dis
y .ss ~ subjects brought up at the con-
ference. but admitted that it dealt with
phases of the living cost problem.
EARLY DECISION EXPECTED
3 Attorney General Palmer has sum-
rnoned District Attorney Clyne of Chicago
to report on the progress of investigations
which have been under way there. Mr..
Clyne's visit was regarded as significant
also because an early decision is expected
by the Attorney General as to whether in
formation submitted to the federal trade
commission warrants prosecutions against
the big five" packing companies.
High prices and the resulting unrest ex-
pressed in strike threats by hundreds of
thousands of railroad men occupied much
of the time of the Senate today. Sen
ators from wheat-growing states asserted
that the government guaranteed price OF
~ .26 bushel was not responsible for the
high cost OF bread, declaring tnat Wncdt
was selling at terminals at higher fig
nres. Senator Grpnna of North Dakota
said the crop would be nearer 65000o,0oO
bushels than 1.250000,O0o bushels forecast
by the department of agriculture.
Suggestions that the food administration
be revived to control prices led Senator
Gronna to say that the packers and all
food dealers never made higher prices
than under the war licensing system.
LAW ALREADY EXISTS
Several senators declared there was
ample law to punish profiteering. Senator
Rorah. Idaho, commented that it would
ne no task to find the profiteer. but that
ne would be las safe the next four years
As the past four" He urged that specu-
hation be curbed
senator Reed deplored efforts to finance
and feed Europe.
senator Gronna of the Senate agricui-
Rure committee announced during the
S]av that his committee would meet to-
snornpw to consider the excessive living
kost problem.
Condemnation of extravaganza on the
part of the public was heard IN severai
quarters today, one high official IN close
Nouch with national expenditures declar-
eng no relief from high prices could be
Axnected while lone hundred million peo-
ple continued to demand the hlghest
s,uality Of everything and were willing to
nav any price to get it." 1t is consid-
cred probable that the treasury may be-
xin q new campaign for economy, by
urging popular investment in treasury
certificates and saving stamps as means
Of easing the situation