Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-08
coNcERTeo MOVE TO FORCE AZ
oucso PRICES LAUNCHED
At pgs MolNEs. +
BARNEY RePoRTs MANY
FOOD LAW VIOLATIONS
Dealers Charged With WiIHui'y Dc.
stroyins Food in Order 70 Keep
Priess Al High Lsvsls--0rand jury
Invests ions Of Alleged Profitssr-
mo to Follow. coufsrares.

Des Moines. Aug. S.--Iowa's cam
paign to reduce the cost Of living was
launched officially today when county
attorneys from every part OF the state
met hero with Governor w. l.. Hard
ing to discuss plans for the, prosseu-
ton Of profitecrs. The meeting was
called by the governor several days
ago after he had received information
that state food laws were being violat-
ed In many places and that as a re-
suit. the cost OF food was being kept
unduly high. Every county attorney
In the state was ordered TO attend the
meeting.
Cooperating with the governor in
his fight to lower the prices Of neces-
sities. IL the department of Attorney
General Havner. who announced tina,
the results OF Investigations made by
his agents would be placed 1T the gov
ernor's disposal.
At today's meeting II was planned
TO discuss reported violations of tho
law and arrange for grand jury inves-
LEGATIONS and prosecution OF profiteere.
Evidence that certain food dealers
had willfully destroyed food and i'm
tied the amount placed on market In
order TO initiate prices was taken up.
Reports of law violations were maue
to the conference by w. b. Barney.
state food and dairy commissioner.
who has had twenty-five investigators
at work during the past week under
orders from Governor Harding.
Iowa Laws Explicit.
Thc Iowa laws which the county at
tOrneys were informed by the cover
nor wore being freely violated provide:
/. Agreeing to limit the amount or
quantity OF any product sold. or any
concerted fixing Of prices is forbidden.
subject to penalties as high as $1,000
fine and year in Jail.
Q Grand juries are especially charg-
ed to investigate in their jurisdictions
to discover whether pools, trusts or
combinations exist.
1t is unlawful to destroy. or suffer to
be destroyed by negligence. any food
with the intention thereby Of raising
prices.
In addition TO discussing the advisa :
bility OF prosecutions and collecting
eNlutIltt. vast lsNu Oh tio'i
concerning the wholesale and retail
prices Of farm produce was presented
to the attorneys for their consldera-
ton.
Meeting Behind Closed Doors.
The county attorneys were told that
they have plenty Of authority In the
laws Of Iowa to prosecute any organi-
cations that they can prove fixed
prices on any commodity. II being un-
necessary 10 establish whether the
prices fixed were excessive. It was
pointed out that the act Of fixing
prices in concert Ia unlawful no rrat'"r
whether the intention is proper or
selfish.
The galleries of the house chamber
were carefully cleared. every person
not a county or state official was driv-
en- out. and the doors Of the house were
closed and guarded when the time
came to take up consideration Of ways
and means to combat profitecrs. The
star chamber session was arranged by
order of Governor Harding. who de-
clared he. had important evidence to
submit to the prosecutors which 1t
would be both unfair and unwise to
give to the public prior to court &C
ton.