The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1919-08-12

In the face Of growing unrest over
the high cost Of living, as Indicated
by the spreading strike of railroad
workers, many government agencies
have moved in efforts to effect re-
turn to normal price levels.
Immediate sale Of all surplus food
stuffs purchased for the Army, i'm
stead of only canned goods, was or
dered by the War Department. Mil
lions of pounds of meat, beans,
pumpkin, squash and other commodi-
ties were offered to the public Mon
day, August is, through the parcels
post system at prices materially low
er than those now prevailing in the
market. Purchasers will have to ray
postage charges from the place Of
storage.
Director General Hines, Commits
sioner Colver and Assistant Secre-
tary Leffingwell, appointed by the
conference assembled by Attorney
General Palmer to recommend steps
to reduce living costs are engaged
| in an exchange of memorandum bear
ing on the problem. The impression
went out that the committee had
agreed that steps could be taken by
Congress which would alleviate the
situation at once, but it was said at
Mr.. Hines office that nothing final
had been decided upon. The com
mittee was instructed particularly
to deal with profiteering and to sug-
yest how law enforcement agencies
should proceed to bring to justice
men guilty of extortion through I'M
reasonable prices.
If any recommendation is made to
Congress it is believed most likely
that it will deal with sale Of the
wheat crop at market prices and the
absorption by the government of the
loss between that price ana the 2.26
guaranteed the farmer.
New York officials have indicated
that this is the most practicable step
which would be taken and one most
likely to have an immediate effect.
Congress continued to discuss the
living question and at the White
House President Wilson was said to
be receiving full reports on all phas-
IS of it. The Senate adopted reso-
luton asking the banking commit
zee whether reduction of the curren-
~ initiation would help the situa-
ion. In the House any attempt to
recess for two weeks was blocked
by Representative Igoe, Democrat,
of Missouri, because his resolution
10 have the federal trade commits
ion investigate the price of shoes
was not acted upon. The new de.
mands of railway employees for more
wages to meet the high cost Of liv-
ing drew fire from Representative
Blanton, Democrat, of Texas, who
said the railroad men were acting
like "highwaymen" in attempting
to obtain "another unfair billion dol
lar" raise.
Introduction in the House of gov
eminent ownership railroads bill
with the employees participating in
the control and profits of the roads
was made the occasion of a state
ment by leaders of the four brother
hoods that the high cost of living
demanded the operation of the coun-
try's most important industry "for
service rather than for profit" The
statement declared that wage earn
ers could never hope to gam a per-
manent victory in the economic strife
under present conditions because of
the constantly growing cycle of
prices based on wages and declar-
ed it was not money, but value which
really counted. Any basic change,
IL was arouad must oomnoanoa s,,;tb