The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-05
FEDERAL PLAN
LAID TO CURB
PROFITEERING
Hines, and Associates Ready
to Act as Export Food
Embargo Is Urged.
"SUN" EDITORIAL LAUDED
Government Profit on Grain
Bared-Congress Backs
Price Investigations.
"sUN" EDITORIAL LAUDED
speeial De.pateh to TIE srx.

Special Despatch to THE SuY.
WASHINGTON, Aug. ALL Govern
ment forces engaged in the fight
ngainst the high cost of living moved
rapidly to-day, but as yet without
concrete results so far as the public
is informed. Conference followed
conference in quick succession, Off
cials from the President down par.
ticipatlng.
The tentative programme for Gov
ernment action was finally put in
shape at late meeting In the office
Of Director General of Railroad Hines
Of the Cabinet conference sub-commit-
tee designated to draft a programme.
The recommendations made will not
be made public until tomorrow.
Many new possibilities of price con-
troll have been opened by the search
Of existing law and the powers of
Government agencies 1t Is proposed
to utilize them to the fullest extent.
Attorney-G General Palmer to-day
asked w. P. C. Harding. of the Fed
eral Reserve Board, to sit as q mem
ber OF the Cabinet council which is
to have conference tomorrow
Julius H. Barnes. head Of the Gov
ernment grain corporation, also In to
attend the conference to be held In
Attorney General Palmer's ofrice.
Two Investigations Approved.
The House Interstate Commerce
Committee favorabIy reported reso.
luton to-day to have the Federal
Trade Commission investigate sugar
Representative Madden (Ill.) urged
before the House the declaration Of a
food embargo to prevent depletion Of
American stores Through export. He
said that this would operate to bring
down American prices.
The high cost Of living was also a
topic Of much debate in the Senate,
many Senators suggesting measures
for solution.
President Wilson devoted consider
able time to-day to studying the prob
i lem. After his conference with repre-
sentatives Of the railway shopmen ne
went to the Federal Trade Commits
sion offices for conferences with Com
missioners Colver and Murdock. With
them he went into the maze of data
complied by this commission as to
the cost Of production Of foodstuffs
and other commodities, together with
material that indicated profiteerlng.
1t became known to-day that the
Federal Trade Commi mission is prepar-
ing and will soon make public re-
ports on future trading in grains and
on costs Of production OF hides and
leather. boots md shoes Many other
studies are fast being completed.
In this connections ii was learned
certain officials are In favor Of restrlc-
tons on gambling in futures.
The commission members would
make no statement regarding the con-
ference with the President. 1t Is
known, however, that the Chief Execu.
tive was interested In production costs
of foods and other articles that enter
into the high cost of living and a
comparison Of selling prices to these
costs, The commission has almost
endless lata on the subject, and II is
understood the President sought par
ticular information on figures that he
may want for an address to Congress
Cd the matter.
| Chicago Prosecutor Called.
1t became known to-day that Dis.
trict Attorney Clyne Of Chicago, who
has participated in many cost Of IN.
ing inquiries In that city, as well as
In packing house investigations, has
been summoned to the conference In
Mr.. Palmer's Office tomorrow.
The Hines -Colver-Leffingwel sub.
committee will report its recommen-
lntions to this conference tomorrow
morning. Whether they will be made
public after the conference or will be
held until after the Cabinet meeting
has not been determined. That they
will cover a wheat subsidy. stamping
OF sale prices and number of finan-
c!ai recommendation is regarded as
exceedingly likely.
Gov. Harding OF the Federal Reserve
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1 Coah{..lxa a. FlSsh pao.