Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-03
All Of Surplus Army
Food to Be Sold
at Once.
COMMITTEE WORKS
ON COST PROBLEM
Pro6teers Face Penalty !
Evidence Against Them
Is Found.

80 = VeA8AeAs
In the face of growing unrest over
the high cost of living, as indicated
by the spreading strike of railroad
workers. many government agencies
moved yesterday in efforts to effect
| a return to normal price levels.
Immediate sale Of all surplus food
stuffs purchased for the Army, I'M
stead of only canned goods, was
ordered by the War Department Mil
hons of pounds of meat, beans.
pumpkin. squash and other commodi-
] ties will be offered to the public Mon
day, August Is, through the parcel
post system, at prices materially
lower than those now prevailing In
the market. Purchasers will have to
pay postage charges from the place
of storage.
Possible Steps by Congress.
Director General Hines. Commis-
sioner Colver and Assistant Secretary
! Leffingwell, appointed by the confer
ence assembled by Attorney General
l fdlmcE 10 EcCOiHHlCuu clCPS " ASooSS
| living costs, were engaged in an ex-
change of memoranda bearing 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 de-
cided upon.
The committee was instructed par
ticularly to deal with profiteering and
1 to suggest how law enforcement agen-
cies should proceed to bring to justics-
men guilty Of extortion through un-
reasonable prices.
II 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 absorp-
ton by the government of the loss
between that price and the $2.2S guar
anteed the farmer. Many officials have
| indicated that this is the most prac-
ticable step which would be taken and
| the one most likely to have an imme-
date effect. 49,,
President Gets Reports.
| Congress- continued to discuss the
living question and at, the White
House President Wilson was said TO
| be receiving full reports on all phases
of it. The Senate adopted resolu-
| tion asking the banking COMMITTEES
| whether reduction of the currency In
hation would help the situation. In
| the House an attempt to recess for
| two weeks was blocked by Repre-
| sentative Igoe, democrat, of Missouri.
because his resolution to have the
| Federal Trade Commission investf-
| gate the price of shoes was not acted
upon. su
The new demands of railway em-
| ployes for more wages to meet the
high cost of living drew fire from
| representative Blanton, democrat OF
! Teras. who said the railroad men
| were acting like "highwaymen IN
| attempting to obtain another unfair
| billion dollar" raise.
introduction in the House of gov
eminent ownership railroad bill, with
the employees participating in the con-
troll and profits Of the roads. was made
the occasion of a statement by lead
ers of the four brotherhoods that the
high cost Of living demanded the OPP
Grafton of the country''s most impor-
tant industry "for service rather than
for profit" The statement declared
that wage earners could never hope
RI gain a permanent victory in the
economic strife under present condi-
lions, because Of the constantly grow
ing cycle of prices based on wages
and declared it was not money but
value. which really counted. Any
basic change, It was argued. must COM
mence with the railroads. the funda-
mental industry on which all others
are dependent.
Two Measures in House.
Two bills designed-to cut the cost OF
living were thrown into the House
hopper along with. many others on
which no action has been taken.
REPRESENTATIVE Flood, democrat.
Virginia, proposed that the Federal
Trade Commission be directed to in
vestigate. fertilizer and farm ma
chinery prices. the increase in which.
he said. had largely forcedr up the
cost Of food.
A bill by Representative Summers.
democrat; Texas. would direct the
Secretary Of Agriculture to establish
farm produce exchanges. His meas
ure, though not eliminating the mid
dleman. is designed to give pro-
ducers and consumers more direct
contact.
War Department Food.
In its announcement OF food sales.
the War Department said, surplus
property Officers at Boston. New York,
Baltimore, Newport News. Atlanta,
Chicago. BIT. Louas. New Orleans. Fort
Sam Houston, Ell Paso. Omaha and
San Francisco had been directed to
make the sales. Presumably the reg
ular zone rates for parcel post will
apply from these cities in determin:
ing the cost to purchasers by the
mn rca1 r,naf avatArn