The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-08-05

Washington, Aug efforts of the
government to force down the cost OF
living overshad0wed all else today in
| Washington. Action to lower prices
was understood to be the chief sub
iect before the regular Tuesday meet
ing of the cabinet The Senate agri-
culture committee planned to discuss
the same topic. and there was also
to be a conference between cabinet
members and other officials at the Of
flee of Attorney-General Palmer
Washington, aug. 4.-OGiciai Wash
ington was working under high pres
sure tonight a. result OF the rapid
developments which have served to
make the living cost situation and
the movement which several branch
es of organized labor have started to
bring about the naturalization of in
dustry the predominant questions of
the day.
While President Wilson was re-
ceiving delegation of the railway
lshopmen and making hurried trip
to the headquarters of the Federal
Trade Commission to obtain first
hand information concerning cost
figures and the scale on which, ii is
asserted speculation and boarding
is in progress, the special committee
of three named at the recent confer
ence at the offices of Attorney Geher
al Palmer was drawing up the final
draft of a report.
This report, which, il is said, in
i.I, Ia
dations concerning methods of attack
ing the profiteers and a statement in
regard TO the proposal to sell wheat
below the Government guarantee
price of $226s win be submitted to
the full conference tomorrow morn
ing, at which the Attorney General
will preside. 1t Is hoped then to
reach full agreement and place the
completed conference report before
the President in time for him to dis
cuss it with his Cabinet in the after
noon.
The demands which have been
made by the organizations of railway
workers and their determined atti-
tude while in conference with Presi-
dent Wilson and Director General of
Railroads Hines we're among the out
standing features of the day
None of the members of the Com
mission would discuss the Presidents
visit, but such reports as were receiv-
ed of the conference were to the eff
fact that the President showed in
tense interest in the cost figures
which have been prepared by the
Commission, both in regard to pack
ing house products and other com
modities which play a prominent part
in the high cost of living problem.
Washington, Aug. 1.-THE prob
lem OF the high cost OF living occupi-
ed the Senate today, debate on il
running for more than three hours.
For the first time in many weeks the
Peace Treaty, with the League of Ma
tions covenant, Shantung and the
rest of II. was overshadowed.
In the course OF the debate Senator
Gronna, Republican, of North Dako-
ia. blamed the Food Administration.
with its licensing system and its price
fixing, as being, in a large measure,
responsible for the high prices pre-
vailing in wheat and other foodstuffs.
Senator Reed, Democrat, of Miss
ouri, urged the Senate not to lose
its head" in an hysterical effort to
readjust prices. He said that the
main trouble was that the United
States, instead of attending to its own
affairs, was attempting, through thu
League of Nations, to mix in the af-
fairs of the whole world. MIR, Reed
denounced the contemplated Inter
national Finance Corporation, which
the Government is asked to supervise
in an attempt to stabilize world mark
et'.
In the broad schemes in which the
United States has undertaken to EN-
bark in the readjustment of the af-
fairs of the world, Mr.. Reed said, the
general effect would be to squeeze
American finances and deprive Ameri
cans of their own food and other pro-
ducts
Various Senators, including Mr..
Reed, Mr. McCumber of North Dako-
tn, and Mr.. Fletcher of Florida, as
sailed prohfeers in foodstuffs and
other commodities Mr.. Reed said
that they ought to be jailed and that
there was ample law to do it.
1t was contended by Mr.. Gronna
that, while wheat was selling at SO a
bushel, as against the Governments
fixed minimum price of 1925, the diff
ference was not due to imitation, but
to shortage in the market. The
yield of the United States this year
would be only S50,0000OO bushels. he
said. while last year it was consider
ably over 1,O0O,OO0,000 bushels.
Senator Fletcher and others said
that the middleman was getting the
major profit out of the high prices
for wheat and -four. In some markets
he said, there was a profit of S4
barrel