New Britain herald., 1919-08-05
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DROP ALL
 ELSE IN FIGHT AGAINST H. C. OF L.
Whether President Wilson Will Go Before Congress With Plan is Not Yet Decided.

Washington, Aug. 5. Attorney General Palmer expects to be ready to present a preliminary report to President Wilson today concerning possible steps to be taken by govern ment agencies in the effort to reduce living costs.
 May Change Wheat Price.
 Julius II. Barnes president of the |. ;. Grain Corp. has been called to the White House for late today and it. is understood the president will take up with him a proposal to re- store wheat to a free market, with the government making good the diff ference between the market price and the $2.26 guarantee to the farmers.
 Anxious to Stop Strikes.
 Administration officials feel that olia way to decrease the cost of liv- il,g is to increase production and the president is understood to feel that strikes now or threats of strikes will interfere materially with any solution Of the problem sought by government agencies.
 League Takes Second Place.
 Conferences with republican and democratic senators on the League of Nations have definitely been aban- doned by the president until the problems of the high cost of living are solved, Secretary Tumulty an nounCed. The president, MT. Tumul- ty said, is going to give his whole time to the question of the high cost of living.
 Whether the president will go be- fore congress to recommend steps de- signed to relieve the situation in which the country now finds itself will depend, MT. Tumulty said, on the nature of the report to be made by MT. Palmer.
 Cabinet Holds Conference.
 Members of the presidents cabinet vert into conference early today with MT. Palmer to receive the report of the special committee appointed last week to tabulate the various sugges- tons thus far advanced, The con- ference was expected to continue until just before the regular Tuesday cab inet meeting at the White House.
 MT. Palmer's report was to be submitted at the cabinet meeting and the president then planned to discuss a free market for wheat with MT. Barnes.
 Most Important Item.
 Efforts of the government to force COWn the cost Ot l1VlnS OVerSnaOOWed all else today in Washington with these developments expected:
 The increased cost of living was to b. taken up at the second meeting of the conferences of cabinet members and other high officials called by At torney General Palmer. At this meet ing was to be heard recommendation of the special committee consisting of Director General Hines, Assistant Sec retary of the Treasury Leff1ngwell and Chairman Colver of the federal trade commission.
 Action by the executive branch of the government to lower prices was understood to be the chief subject to come before the regular Tuesday cabinet meeting.
 Plans Arc Underway.
 The senate agriculture committee planned to discuss methods of bring ing down prices.
 Chairman Esch of the house inter state commerce committee was pre- pared to urge that the house take action on the Tinkham bill for in vcstigation by the federal trade com mission of an alleged artificially created sugar shortage, while Repre- Igoe, of Missouri, was ready to renew his request that his reSOlu- ton directing a federal trade com mission investigation of shoe prices be taken up.