The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-08-14

washington, aug. -lnlpor rtdht
new developments in the government
fight to reduce the high cost of living
came today.
One of the most interesting was the
announcement by Attorney-General
Palmer that the first federal convict
icn for profiteering has been obtained
District Attorney Lucy telegraphed
from Binghampton, N. Y, that re-
tail grocer had been fined $500 for
selling sugar at is cents a pound.
Binghampton, N. Y, Aug. 1S.-Be-
cause Of an effort to make an illegal
profit of cents pound on sugar
among his small circle of retail Gus
toners, Joseph Mossew, retail deal
or in this city, found himself under
indictment and facing United States
Judge Ray in the United States Court
today.
Sealer of Weights and Measures
Thomas Dunn OF this city received
complaints from consumers that MOS
sew was in the habit of charging 10
cents 6, pound for sugar. He confirm
ed the statement, then placed the mat
ter in the hands of the United States
Commissioner The case was prompt
ly laid before the special United
States Grand Jury in session in this
city and an indictment Immediately
found Mossew was arraigned and
pleaded guilty to the charge of yiolat-
ing the food laws by profiteering.
1t was the first case to arise under
the new law and was the first convict
ion for profiteering in the United
States Court In passing sentence
Judge George W. Ray warned the of
fender that there was certain food reg
uations and price-fxing statutes that
the Government was going to enforce
to the limit, and that while $500 fine
would be imposed in this case repit-
tion of the offense would mean a long
term of imprisonment.
The case has caused a sensation
and further prosecutions are in pros
pect.
Washington, Aug. 13,-Attorney,
General Palmer this afternoon in
structed Joseph L. Bodine, United
States District Attorney at Trenton
N. j.. to institute an action in equity
against nineteen of the largest ce-
ment manufacturing concerns in the
East, the Federal complaint, signed
by Mr.. Palmer, alleging that these
corporations entered into conspir-
acy which has doubled, if not trebled
the price of commodity used in the
construction OF homes, Office build
ings, factories, bridges, roads ships,
tunnels, and other prime necessities
which In the language Of the COM
plant has largely contributed ito the
prevailing enormous cost OF necessl-
ties now imposing heavy burden up
on the public"
In making the announcement this
afternoon, Attorney General Palmer
made it plain that he considered this
action one of the most important
moves made by the Government for
the proper control and remedyof the
present high cost of living problem.
II Is charged that these great corpor-
ations formed an 'unnncorporated as
sociation" for the control of the ce-
ment industry in the past and that
this unincorporated organization
maintained offices at 19 West Forty
fourth Street, New York City, from
which central office the activities Of
the organization, the Government al
leges, are now directed.
The nineteen corporations against
whom the action is brought are the
following, with the name of defend
ant. and location of mills;
Atlas Portland Cement Co.. Coplay
end Northampton, Penn, Hudson, N:
Y.
Allentown Portland Cement Co.,
Evansville. Penn.
Alpha Portland Cement Co.. Man
helm. w. Va; Alpha, N. j.; Martins
Creek, Penn; Cementon, N. Y.
Bath Portland Cement Co., Bath,
Penn.
Coplay Cement Mfg. c., Coplay and
Saylors, Penn.
Dexter Portland Cement Co., Naza-
reth, Penn.
The Edison Portland Cement Co.,
New Village. N. j.
Giant Portland Cement Co., Egypt,
Penn. Norfolk, Va.
Glens Falls Portland Cement Co.,
Glens Falls, N. Y.
& Hercules Cement Corp, Hercules,
Penn
Knickerbocker Portland Cement
Co., Hudson, N. Y.
Lawrence Cement Co., Siegfried,
Penn.
Lehigh Portland Cement Co, Orm-
rod. West Copley Fogelsyille, New
castle, Penn. Fordwick w. Va.
Nazareth Portland Cement Co.,
Bath, Penn.
Penn-Allen Cement Co., Nazareth,
Penn.
Pennsylvania Cement Co., Bath,
Penn.
Phoenix Portland Cement Co., Naz-
areth, Penn.
Security Cement and lime Co., Sc
curity. Mr.; Berkeley, w. Va.