The public ledger., 1919-08-14
SLATIERY GETTING
FOOD PRICE IN FED.
ERAL INVESTIGATION
Progress Of Food Investigation In
Eastern Kentucky Summed Up In
Statement Of Attorney.

Discussing the fight upon the high
cost of living, Thomas d. Slattery, of
Maysville, United States Attorney for
the Eastern District of Kentucky, yes
terday issued the following statement
from his Office in Covington:
1.-THE forces of this office, in connec-
tion with the agents of the Depart
ment of Justice, are making a care
full investigation of food conditions
throughout the district. They are as
certaining the prices charged to the
consumer by the retail dealer and also
the prices paid by the retailer to the
jobber, and, where possible, the price
Is traced back to the manufacturer
or original seller In any case in
which it is ascertained that uncon-
scionable profits are being received
either by the retailer, jobber or manu-
facturer, the facts will be certified to
the Attorney-General for his inform
alton. Also, the Investigations are
directed toward all cold storage
plants, warehouses and railroads, and
all places involved in the storage or
transportation of food productions,
with a view of ascertaining whether
or not any food products are being
stored or handled in such way as to
influence upward the price Of such
food products.
"Of course we recognize the fact
that ordinary prudence requires that
a sufficient amount Of foods to enable
dealers and others to supply the needs
Of consumers in scant times should be
stored for that purpose, but when 1t
Is apparent from the excess quantities
stored and from other facts and cir
cumstances surrounding the handling
of food products that the purpose Is
not that Of keeping the markets sup
piled in scant times, but is to keep
such foods off the immediate marke-
with the intent thereby to cause q
present scarcity in the market and
thereby enhance the price Of the same
such action amounts to boarding, ano
all persons, dealers, jobbers, manufac-
turers and others found, upon investi-
CATION, to be guilty Of such practice
will be proceeded against under the
Food Control Act of August 10, 1917
This act, while designed as war
statute, is still in force and effect.
"The penalty provided for violations
of this act is fine not exceeding s5,-
600 or Imprisonment not exceedinf
two years, or both.
"The statutes make perfectly clea
the purpose which Congress had IN
mind in enacting them. 1t is appar
ent that these laws were enacted TO-
the purpose Of preventing any person
or concern from taking advantage OF
the peoples necessities. Such law
were deemed necessary, not only
a proper protection to the public, but
also as necessary in winning the war
A faithful compliance with these law
and the regulations Hereunder by all
persons during the period of the wa
was highly commendable and contrib
uted in a large measure to our mill
tary success.
"The winning of the war, of course
was indispensable to the future peace
and happiness and prosperity of oui
country, but it is also essential that
we should attain a similar success in
graphing with the problem Of recon
struction. The demands upon our pa
triotism in that respect are equally as
great as they were during the days OF
actual military conflict. 1t is just az
much a violation of the law today as
1t was during the war to profteer, and
1t is equally as unpatriotic and objec-
tionable from every other standpoint
81 sincerely trust that no one within
the Eastern District of Kentucky Is or
has been guilty of any of the acts de-
nounced by the Federal statutes, but If
the investigation which now is IL
process discloses that they are or
have been guilty of practices violative
NJ same. then the penalties provlde1