The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1919-08-13
WANTS BIG sum FOR
FOOD INVESTIGATIONS
Chairman Murdoch Says Funds Au-.
thOriZcd Insufficient
TWO BILLS ARE PRESENTED
Would Fine ProfiteerS $4,000; Glass
Asks $4,000 for Secret
Service.

Washington Aug. 12.-An appropri-
alton of $500,000 for investigations of
the increased cost Of living by the
federal trade commission was asked
of Congress today by Acting Cha
man Murdoch Of the commission in q
letter to Speaker Gillette. Funds for
the commission already authorized
are insufficient to conclude the pro-
posed inquiry, the letter said
Chairman Murdock, who also is d
member of the subcommittee named
by Attorney General Palmer to sub
nit recommendations for reducing liv
ing costs, set forth i'm his letter that
the commission proposed to conduct
further Investigations as to the pro-
ductlon, storage and distribution of
foodstuffs with the aim Of arriving
at figures on the real cost, whole
sale and retail prices.
So far as known the President has
not directed any additional invcstiga-
tlons but bills are pending in the
House for inquiries into the sugar and
shoes industries.
For Secret Service.
The communication from the COM
mlttee chairman reached the House at
the close of q day during which both
branches Of Congress gave r,ulh at.
tention to cost of living problems. Ap-
preparation of $l75,000 was asked for
the secret service by Secretary Glass,
VINO asked that in authorizing the
appropriation a clause be insetred to
permit the use of the service opera
tives in running down food hoarGers
and profteers.
Two Bills Presented.
Hoarding and profiteering were the
subject of two measures presented in
the House. A bill by Representative
Gard, Democrat, Ohio, would provide
$4,000 fine or five years imprison-
ment for boarding, profteering or
monopolizing the production of food
stuffs, fuel or clothing. Representa-
tive Goodykoontz, Republican, West
Virginia, presented a resolution to di-
rect the judiciary committee to frame
legislation to eliminate boarding and
to reduce the amount of currency in
circulation Mr.. Goodykoontz also in
troduced resolution requesting the
Secretary of War to sell the surplus
stocks of automobiles and motor
trucks
10 Regulate Price.
Representative Kellar, independent
Republican, introduced a bill to au,
thoriZe creation of national board
of conservation headed by the Prcsi.
dent and composed of members Of
the Cabinet, five Senators and five
Representatives. which would have
power to regulate wholesale and re-
tail prices of food and clothing.
Representative Fess Republican.
Ohio, discussing the high cost of liv.
ing III the House declared that gov
ernment wastefulness during the war
ana at present in continuing many
war-creatcd agencies largely was re-
sponslble for the existing situation.
Senator McKellar, Democrat, Tennes-
see, appearing before the House ag-
rlculturc committee, predicted organ
lzed opposition on the part of the
packing industry to any legislation to.
regulate cold storage facilities.
Coming Up Again Today.
The cost Of living question will be
brought UP again tomorrow on the
floor of the Senate with prepared ad
dresses by Senator Mcclellan and Sen.
ator Reed, Democrat, Missouri. The
two addresses probably will give rise
to considerable debate.
Although no announcement was
made by the Department of Justice
today regarding its efforts to BRING
living expenses down to level with
the average mans pocketbook, it was
understood that the activities ALREADY
d'rected were progressing with the
departments representatives hard at
work in all parts of t6o co,n4,,,