The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-08-08
G DRIVE IS ON
FOR CHEAPERFOOD.
Forces of Nation Organize to
Fight Profiteers.
J END HIGH COST OF LIVING
tn Senate and House Committees
Get Down to Work of lnVestiga-
tion-Packers May Be Restrict
ed-Study Currency Imitation.

Washington, Aug. 4.-LOcal officials
over the nation are lining up to
Ipp0rt the government in the fight
yainst high prices now being planned
7 Attorney General Palmer.
Investigations are beginning In
amy sections to determine production
osts and wholesale and retail pronts.
overnOrs, mayors and grand Jurles
re ordering searching probes.
Officials of the justice department
reelected Investigations will be under
,ay In at least thirty states within
NO weeks. Local officials In ONO,
fichigan, Maryland and New York al
eady have investigations under way.
States to Give Data to Palmer.
Data to be obtained by local investi-
atiOns will be at the disposal OF At
oraey General Palmer if he wants it
aid in his nationwide campaign
igainst profiteers, officials here said.
\ vast amount of data bearing upon
very angle of the problem OF eliminat-
ng profiteers and jamming down the
cost of living is being accumulated In
congress and by executive depart
nents of the government.
Exact figures on prices OF all Iarm
and dairy products received by FARMER
and wholesaler are being collected In
all sections of the country by the agrf-
cultural department.
Retail price figures for all principal
cities are being collected by the iaDor
department, while the federal trace
commission is investigating scores OF
articles, including bread, canned vege-
tables, steel and shoes.
Data already printed and available
here would make a path 10000 miles
long If the volumes were laid edge to
edge, when it is completed.
First Skirmishes in War.
Some of the DEVELOPMENTS scheduled
were:
Attorney General Palmer's commit
tee, made up Of cabinet officers ana
other high government officials, Iues-
day will hear the repOF of a Subcom-
mittee which will recommend the re-
yival of the food administration In
some form.
The committee will also have up for
discussion measures to reduce coal
prices, forcing the stamping OF produc-
ton costs on necessities, licensing
food dealers, and proposals to cut the
wheat price below the 1925 guarantee.
The president will await the report
of Palmer's committee. His recon-
mendation, which will follow this re-
port. probably will take the form OF
message to congress.
At the capitol, the senate banking
and currency committee will begin
hearings on possible ways to denate
the currency as ordered in resolu-
ton introduced by Senator Myers and
passed by the senate Saturday.
Tn the house, Representative IgOe
will demand action on his resolution
authorizing the federal trade commits
sion to investigate the price of shoes
and the alleged control of packers
over the leather market.
use the situation presented by mount
ing prices and the fight to bring them
down as an argument for the early
ratification of the peace treaty, so that
the world can get back to normal
base.
May Restrict Packers.
Consideration is being given to bill
submitted by Representative Kelly,
PENNSYLVANIA, and approved by the
federal trade commission, which would
restrict packers handling food staples
70 q four months supply at any given
time.
The Kelly bill is intended to open
the warehouses of all packers handling
general food lines, such as eggs, but
fer. canned goods. smoked and frozen
meats and grocery staples, and by
keeping these products flowing through
the packing houses restore operation
of the law of supply and demand as 1t
applies to foodstuffs.