The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-01
PLAN OF ACTION

Early in the day il was learned that
the President was giving the high cost
of living problem his most serious at
tentton and this was followed by the
word that he had formulated q plan
of preliminary action.
Hh nrst step WAS to call . confer
once Of cabinet oficers and depart
ment heads primarily concerned.
was stAteA that NO effective steps
confN IS taken unless the full powers
~ the President we're ascertained and
hence this conference took place IN
the once Of Attorney-G GENERAL Pal
mer. II was understood that the
president desired to have any con-
illusions reached sanctioned by the
Attorney-general
Those who Joined with attorney
xeneral Palmer in h conferences held
late this afternoon. were Secretary
of the Treasury Glass, Assistant Secre-
tary Lefingweli. Secretary of Agrf-
culture Houston. Secretary Of Com
merce Redfeld. Director General OF
Railroads Hines. and Victor Murdoch
and w. b. Colver, Of the federal trade
com mission.
The day also brought important de
v~eiopn1ents In congress In c~onnectioh
With the high COS OF living problems
These were:
Montana. in a speech in the senate
declared the high cost OF living ~
due In a large part to the fact That
TOO much currency is in circulation
He introduced a resolution directing
he banking and currency committee
- Investigate as to whether or not
~. amount OF currency in circulation
should be decreased. The senator
said that during the past year n
amount al money in circulation has
heen doubled and the cost OF living
n1so has doubled.
4 a number OF senators. In public
- statements. expressed the hope that
ne president and congress may get
together on the enactment OF ieeis-
iafion 10 reduce the s OF living
1. In the house. Representative
Reavis. Republican, q N~enrasxa.
CHAIRMAN OF the sub-committee In
~~~sflratinR the war departments
handling Of the army's surplus food
sunoly. announced that his commit
1se Ill an early date will, call upon
fhs ofactals of the federal trade COM
m1iesion to produce the figures on the
nost Of production of food products
rnthored during the war. The Object
IA asking for these figures 10 to show
go difference between the cost OF
PRODUCTION and tho selling prices
LOWER BREAD COST
q Representative Fitzgerald. Demo
crat, .of Massachusetts,. introduced a
resolution calling upon h govern
unent to sell b 1919 wheat crop ~
me world market price In order to
lover the cost OF bread. the govern
mont to make up the deficiency be-
tween that price and the $2.26 guar
antee out OF tho billion dollar fund
nnnrOpriated to carry out the guarAn-
n The resolution also requests the
aftprney-general to take Immediate
s(epe to stop speculation and gamb-
MT on stock exchanges In food and
other nccessaries Of life.
s. Representative Esch. Republic
ran, OF Wisconsin, chairman of the
house commerce committee, announce
~ That he would place before his
committee tomorrow the resolution of
Representative Igoe. Democrat, Of
Mfssouri, directing the federal trade
~roransission to make an investigation
10 establish the differences In the cost
n production OF shoes. clothing and
other n~ecessaries and the selling
prices. -
0-The rules committee also may
fake up another resolution by Mr..
r~oe directing the ways and means
~emmittee to Investigate Al to the ex-
eHnt that rents and charges for serv-
~ II other commodities have been In
Grnaaed BY Individuals, nrms and COR
ssnraffons whose incomes and profits
1nr 10 year 1915 Are taxed under tbs
s1venue acA Of 1919. The purpose OF
1hie probe would be & enable con-
jnFeSn a retaliats by ~increasing the