Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-08-27
PRICE WAR BRINGS RESULTS.
Packer Notes Easing OF In the Cost
of Probationary View.

dSLluStOn, aug. El.--AttOrney
General Palmer said to-day there
was evidence that the government
campaign to reduce the cost of liv-
ing already was bearing fruit. A
prominent vegetable packer Of Mary
land wrote Mr.. Palmer that prices
In many lines were beginning to
ease off as 1t became evident the
Department of Justice meant busi-
ness In announcing that criminal
prosecutions against hoarders and
profiteers would be instituted wher-
ever the law was violated.
Can't Change Economic Laws.
We want to make clear, how
ever" the Attorney General said.
that nothing we can do can change
the immutahle economic laws on
which prices depend. II we can in
crease the supply by greater produc-
tion and lessen demand by greater
saving on the part OF the people, then
the cost of living should come down.
We can help that along by forcing
hoarders to put on the market food
held out for an advance in prices,
and further by holding up to pub
lie scorn or by prosecuting, if Con-
gress gives us the criminal amend
ment to the food control law, those
who are guilty Of trying to exact
greater profit than is reasonable and
just. We are going to make the
market-that is the law Of supply
and demand operate normally in
stead of artificially."
Hoarded and Stored.
The Attorney General and Judge
Ames, his assistant, drew distinctions
which they said the public should
recognize between boarded food and
stored food. The former is held out
OF the market in greater quantities
than required for the owners busi-
ness for the purpose Of forcing up
the market. The latter is surplus
being husbanded from the harvest
to a lean season.
"Not all stored food is boarded by
any means," Mr.. Palmer said, land
we are going to be very careful not
to do anybody an injustice or to
jeopardiZe the winter supply by
forcing on the market the surplus Of
the summer season. We have libeled
great quantities Of food which we be-
lieve to be boarded and it's disposi-
ton after the cases are settled by
the courts will depend on the nature
Of the ommodities and the place of
storage"
To Put 1t on the Market.
1t was made clear, though, that
all food proved to be boarded would
be put on the market. United States
marshals probably will administer
It's disposition, but whether sales
will be made direct to the public
or through retailers under guaran-
tee Of fair prices has not been de-
cided
Reports to the attorney general
from State food administrators in
dicated that fair price boards rapid
ly were being set up in many States
and were proceeding to get pledges
from dealers to abide by the prices
promulgated for the guidance Of the
public.
Eleven Cases.
The Department Of Justice an
nounces that eleven cases had been
brought under the food control act
for the seizure of food in Columbus,
Ga, st. Louis, Detroit, Chattanooga
and Kansas City.
Cost of living questions continued
to be discussed by Congress to-day.
Mr.. Palmer, appearing before the
House agricultural committee in con-
nection' with its consideration Of leg
islation to extend the powers Of the
food control act, opposed the pro-
posal to give the President authority
to fix Wholesale and retail prices OF
necessities. From the attorney
generals statements the conclusion
was drawn by some committee men,
bers that under the amended food
control act the Department Of Jus
tice primarily would strike at the re-
tailers.
Executive Session.
Following Mr.. Palmer's appear
ance the committee held an execu-
tive. session at which it was under
stood an agreement was reached on
the general nature Of the amend