The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-07
President VIII Urge Small Prof
iteer Be Punished
VIII Hit Retailer Who EFFORTS
Excessive Profit.
ARMY IN DRIVE ON HOARDERS
Over Thousand Secret Service
Men Hunt Price GOugers.
H. C. L. Fight Is Divided Into
Three 'Major Offensives."


Washington, Aug. 7.-President Will.
son, going before congress at p. m
tomorrow with his high cost OF living
message, plans to ask extension of food
control legislation to include other
commodities. 1t was learned today.
The presidents message is practi-
cally completed and is being revised
before 1t is sent to the printers.
The president wishes, it was limited,
to have measures passed designed to
reach the smallest individual profiteer.
This. 1t is thought probable, would
reach the retailer who EFFORTS an ex-
cessive profit.
Carrying out of his program, it was
1 said, would require enactment of three
or four additional laws by congress.
| 1000 Secret Service Men Working.
An army of more than 1000 agents
and employees of the department of
justice today plunged into a nation.
wide hunt for evidence to gain whole
| sale convictions of food profiteers and
price gougers.
Spread over every section of the
United States, this force of investiga-
| tors began work under orders of 200
/ federal attorneys. United States mar
shals and deputies will help. Assist
| ance is available from a corps of
I
commission. And keeping in personal
| touch with the entire situation, Attor-
/ ney General Palmer was in his office
here tods:- directing the work.
81 ordered everything else side
! tracked" he said.
| Arrests are expected within a few
days, it was said at Palmer's office
Profiteers To Jail.
| Convicted profiteers may face Jail
terms under the wartime food control
acts which gave Palmer authority to
order the clean up in kilograms he
sent to all federal district attorneys
late yesterday,
With the opening of this campaign
today Palmer took the first step
planned by the government in an ex-
tensive economy offensive to reduce
living costs and curb boarding and
manipulating of food stocks.
| Acting under Palmer's orders the
second step was being taken in New
York. where Attorney Isadore j.
Kresel began organizing a force to
move against the big packers for al
legged violations of the antitrust laws.
Palmer said he would start action on
the basis of alleged facts about the
packers operations revealed in re-
ports of the federal Ntrade commission
and congressional committees which
investigated the firms.
= President Wilson will take the third
he addresses congress on the need for
new and permanent legislation to re-
place the food control act after peace
is ratified.
Courts Will Be Harsh.
Long before congress acts, it is ex-
pected TINT .profiteers will be forced
to the bar in courts in many sections
of the country. Section six of the food
= control act, under which Palmer says
he will bring proceedings. provides
that any person who wilfully hoard:
Gny necessities shalf-be fined not ex
ceeding $1,000 or be imprisoned fol
not more than two years or both"
Justice department officials are con
WINGED, they said today, that strong
sentiment will back Item in demand
: ing Jail sentences for those convicted
and that no court would feel conten
to let off profiteers with mere fines
As defined in section number six me
/. boarded within the meaning of thi
> act when either:
"(A)-HeId, contracted for. or arrange,
Tor py any person In quantity in exeos
: OF his reasonable requirements for use o
within a reasonable time:
I "CB)-held, contracted for. or arrange
1 for by any manufacturer, wholesaler. re
taller or other dealer in quantity in ex
cess of the reasonable requirements Of hi
D business for use sale by him for Fea
quantities seasonTbfy turnout the per:O,
e of scant production, or,
t "(C]-withheld. whether by possession
[ or under contract or arrangement frOn
e the market by any person for the purpos
of unreasonabiy increasing or diminishing
the price
Sell Confiscatcd Goods.
:, Section number seven provides 70
$ the condemnation of boarded supple
and their sale in the open market.
: Much evidence against hoarders an
profiteers already is said to be Il
possession of department of justice of
ficials.
For antitrust work, Palmer nov
has a balance of nearly 500, 600 undo
: an appropriation which becomes avail
able July 1. Presumably more wi
be appropriated by congress IL tn
fund runs short, Justice department
officials said fndav