New-York tribune., 1919-08-13
Trade Commission Wants
Half Million to Con.
tinue Its Inquiries Into
the Big Corporations
Farmers Oppose
Reduced Prices
Senate Agricultural Com
mittee Says 1t Would
Give Producers Return
Netr York Tribune
W1.shinOtOn Bureau


WASHINGTON, Aug. 12.-The per
mission of Congress to employ tn
United States Secret Service in huntin,
down profiteers and hoarders of food
stuffs was asked to-day in letter sen
by Secretary of the Treasury Glass t,
Speaker Gillett Of the House of Repre-
sentatives, with the approval of Presi
dent Wilson. The letter asked an ad
ditional appropriation of $4,000 t,
carry on this work.
A half million dollar appropriation
was asked by the Federal Trade Com
mission to carry on inquiries directed
by President Wilson and by Congress.
into profitcerng and unfair business
practices by corporations producing
food products and other necessities o.
life.
Other developments in the high cos
of living situation were:
Senators from agricultural states
joined with the Senate Committee
on Agriculture in statement that
reductions in the price of farm
|
the farmer living wages" and that
farmers are inclined to look with
suspicion on efforts to bring down
food prices just at the time their
crops are coming to market.
Says Packers Control Situation
Senator McKelar, Democrat, of
Tennessee, told the House Agricult-
ural Committee "the packers are in
absolute control of the food situa-
ton" He said his bill for control
troduced in 1913 was opposed by the
Department Of Agriculture and by
Federal Trade Commissioner MUIR
dock, then a member of the House
Representative Fess, Republican,
of Ohio, asserted in an address in
the House that existing laws are
adequate to meet the present situa-
tion,sif properly employed. He spoke
for reduction in the volume of the
currency and dismantlng of the
war machine as the two best rene
dies for the high cost of living.
representative Gard, Democrat, of
Ohio, introduced "necessaries con-
troll act" providing maximum penal
ties of $4,000 fine or five years inn
prsonment, or both. for protiteering
and hoard:.g necessities of life. The
term necessary" is defined in the
bill as covering food, feed, fuel,
wearing apparel and all other COM
modites necessary to life.
Representative Goodykoontz, Re-
publican, of West Virginia, intro
House Judiciary Committee to report
all measures aimed at profiteering by
producers. wholesalers, jobbers or
retailers without further hearings.
He gave notice that he would call
up the resolution for action at the
first opportunity
Request for More Money
The request of the Federal Trade
Commission for an additional S500,00(
appropriation was contained in a let
ter from Acting Secretary of The
Treasury Moye, submitting the fol
lowing estimate by Victor Murdock
chairman of the commissions:
For all expenses necessary in con
necton with the collection of informa
tion as may be directed by the Pres
dent of the United States or Congress:
or within the scope of it's powers re
gardirg the production, ownership
manufacture, storage and distribution
Of foodstutfs or other necessities ane
the products or by-products arising
from or in connection with the manu-
Tacture or preparation thereof, to
gethcr with figures Of cost and whole
sale and retail prices. S5O0,0OO, sai'
amount to remain available until ex
pended"
The request of Secretary Glass 70
permission to use the secret service
IN detecting hoarders and prohteer
was made necessary by the eiimina
ton. OF clanse in the suNdry clvi
bill authorizing the President to EN-
plOy the secret service Without lrler
ence to existing limitations in al
emergency. The $50 900 asked for thi
work is in addition to previous csti
mate of S15O,0O0 for the maintenanc
of the service by Secretary Glass.
"Approved, Woodrow Wilson"
The Secretarys letter 70 Speakc
Gillett, which bore the words ZAP
proved, Woodrow Wilson" follows:
"The cooperation Of the secret
service of this department TREAS
ury) has been asked in the campaign
against food hoarders and profiteers,
were employed as the Investigating
force in cooperation with the food
administration during the fiscal
years 1918 and 1919 and are there
fore especially we'll equipped to rem
der valuable service
This aid cannot be extended in
the present emergency because the
clause authorizing the President to
direct, withou. reference to exist
ing limitations, the use of secret
service agents, if in his judgment
Continued on page fre