Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-08-17
NO CHANGE IN
OMAHA PRICES,
SAY RETAILERS
U. S. District Attorney to
Come Here Monday to Take
Charge Of Food
Probe.

The arrival of United States Dis
trict Attorney Thomas Allen from
Lincoln next Monday morning, and
the early calling of federal grand
jury are among the development:
in the local situation in connection
with the probe into food boarding
profiteering and other phases OF the
high cost of living as result OF the
campaign by The Bee.
J. J. Cameron, secretary OF the
Retail Grocers' association yester.
( day said: II have made a canvass Of
the situation and so far as | could
learn there has been no change Of
any kind in retail prices"
Few Reductions Noted.
Despite the statement of Mr.
| Cameron advertisements OF some OF
the retail stores show there have
been few reductions, although the
general price situation has not been
| materially affected.
A downtown store advertised
steer pot roast two weeks ago at
2212 cents, as against 1874 cents
today. This store also has reduced
its price on prime roll ribbed roast
from 32H two weeks ago to 80 cents
and spring chickens from 4715 to
43H within the two-week period.
Details of what will be presented
to the federal grand jury in connec-
ton with food boarding will not be
disclosed by the local representa-
tives of the Department of Justice.
As far as they will 60 in committing
themselves is to say that they have
lot of documents to offer and that
their agents are still in the field, OBJ
tanning additional data. Witnesses
will be summoned to appear before
the grand jury. This session of the
federal grand jury will be the regu-
lar call next month. No special ses-
sion will be called for the food
probe, officials say.
|, Statement of Peterson.
Assistant United States Attorney
F. A. Peterson said:
"The Department Of Justice has
been giving its entire time to inves-
tigating the food situation. You must
understand that we cannot outline
at this time what we have been do
ing, but | may say that our evil
dence will go before the federal
grand jury. District Attorney Allen
will be here next Monday morning"
This office has nothing new to
give Cut, but l can say that we are
investigating something which may
materialize when we have gone into
the matter thoroughly" said County
Attorney Shotwell.
II am of the opinion that the
probe which was started last Mon
day morning in the city council
chamber should be resumed without
further delay" said City Commits
sioner Butler. II have told the
mayor so and next Monday morn
ing, during the meeting of the city
council committee of the whole, I
will insist that this probe shall be
resumed and that no further ad-
journments shall be ordered until
we have completed the job. Let us
find out just where the blame rests
if it is possible for US to do So"
Passes the Buck.
Commenting on the situation,
Secretary Cameron of the retail
grocers, after stating that he had
been unable to find any reductions
of retail prices, added: THE whole
salers, jobbers, packers and manu-
facturers have made no change Of
prices to the retailers, so how could
you expect the retailers to cut
prices? The retailers are not treated
fairly. The reductions in prices
must start from the other end, NOT
with the retailers"
c. L. Porter of Courtney & Co.'S
store, was asked yesterday if he
knew of any reductions in retail
prices.
II do not know of any reductions,
but l know that potatoes went up
cne-half a cent pound on the
wholesale market today. Spuds have
been 81 per 100 pounds and now
we are paying $3.50 per hundred"
he replied.
Mayor Smiths present efforts to
reduce the high cost of living are
confined to his municipal grocery
.+orae The r,,ovor &c sanp,1irle that