The sun., 1919-08-08
U. 5. READY TO ACT
In PACKERS SUITS
Chicago Grand Jury to Get
Evidence in Criminal
Action Soon.
WILSON REVIEWS COSTS
Long Message Asks for Re-
strictions-No Need for
Present Food Prices.
WILSON REVIEWS COSTS

will be revealed to the people Of the
country Tomorrow afternoon, when
President Wilson appears before a joint
| session of Congress-. The President
completed his message on the subject
late to-day and II is being printed for
Congress. In the meanwhile, the recon-
mendations made are being regarded
with the closest secrecy. The Executive
gave the entire day to the food and
railroad problems.
The message is one of the longest
ever prepared by the President. II ID
twenty-seven typewriter pages. and will
be considerably over 5000 words in
length. II will deal with the facts al
ready brought out by Government in
vestigation tending to show that there
is no Justification for present prices.
and will recommend, Il is understood,
extension of the Lever food control act
and the passage Of other laws to meet
the situation.
The message will be the first gun in n
great publicity campaign, OF education
to give the people the facts with respect
to costs, that they may form their own
judgments on prices.
Nationwide Drive Started.
While the President and his Official
advisers were in conference on the mes
sage, and the steps to be taken by the
Government, District Attorneys in every
section of the country had launched
municipal and county Investigations to
reach food hoarders and profiteers In
their respective localities. They are Il
go ahead on their initiative and bring
actions without further recourse to the
Department OF Justice. The Depart
ment Is consequently without detailed
reports OF the progress being made n
the various cities Of the country.
Initial action against the big flve pack
ers. Armour. Swift. Cudahy. Morris and
Wilson, Is to be of a criminal nature
District Attorney Clyne OF Chicago. who
has participated in packer Investigations,
was summoned to the White House to-
day. He stated that the facts with re-
spect to the packers would be laid before
the Grand Jury in Chicago as soon as
It convenes three weeks hence, and that
indictments would be asked. This was
the first intimation as to whether first
action was to be of a criminal or civil
nature.
Civil suits. probably in the District
Court In Chicago. are to follow the crimi-
nal actions All of the cases brought will
De under tho direction of Isidor J. Kresel,
but District Attorney Clyne will be in
charge Of the criminal actions Instituted
1t was indicated that the cases probably
Will surpass In scope any Heretofore
brought by the Government.
Ground Of Indictments.
Indictments in Chicago will be sought
on the ground Of alleged conspiracy in
restraint OF trade. with the aim of arti-
ficially boosting prices. 1t was intlmated
. AN ~.
meat and meat products, but would 20
into practically all Of the commodities
handled by the big packing organiza-
lions through their four hundred or more
subsidiaries.
The Federal Trade Commission made
another significant move in the general
campaign against food prices to-day.
when II made public a statement proving
that the law Of supply and demand was
not immutable so far as food prices were
concerned in the United States, and in
dicating that foodstuffs were being spec
ulatively held In storage For a world de-
mand which Is not now here. but which
is expected when hunger impelled strikes
secure higher wages with which higher
food prices can be paid"
The commission shows that not COUNT
Ing Government surplus stocks there was
a greater supply of fodstuffs in the
country on June / this year than on
June 1 last year, though prices had
steadily advanced in tho face Of this SIT
uation-
The finishing touches were put upon
the general administration program at a
fnal White House conference to-day.
The President summoned all Of the on
Gals who attended Cabinet conferences
on the subject and they all appeared
with the exception of Secretary of Labor
Wilson, who was out of Washington.
Those attending were Attorney General
Palmer. Secretary OF the Treasury Glass,
Director-Genefal of Railroads Hines
Secretary OF Agriculture Houston, Sec
rotary of Commerce Redheld, Chairman
Colver Of the Federal Trade Commits
sion, assistant Attorney-General Ames.
assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Leffingwell. and District Attorney Ciyne
Of Chicago.
President Reads Message.
The President read to these men the
message he has prepared for the Con-
gress embodying their recommended tons,
1t is understood that practically no
changes were made in the original draft.
Inc conference lasted for fully an hour
and a half. the President denying him
self to all other callers He had dis
cussed action against the packers with
District Attorney Clyne earlier In the
day.
Each OF the Government agencies rep-
resented In the conference is to begin a
campaign OF public enlightenment on
living costs as soon as President Will
sons message is printed In the news
papers: all available data on foods, the
cost OF production, the cheapest vari-
cites and the most easily available
sources Of supply.
Actions under existing law, It Ia I'M
derstood are not to be confined to PROSE
cutions OF criminal actions or civil SUITS
by the Department of Justice. The Fed
eral Trade Commission will proceed
against all dealers In foodstuffs and
commpdities that go into the cost of liy-
Ing wherever there II warrant for action.
Such proceedings will be brought under
the Clayton and Federal Trade Com
mission acts They will be directed
against unfair competition and unfair
trade practices designed to keep up
prices.
II was Indicated to day that efforts
are to be made to break down the close |
OF industry that was built
up with Government aid during the war. |
Close coordination and cooperation. II
was pointed out. do not In a great |
many cases constitute violation Of law, |
though prices are possibly Influenced |
and affected. Coordination was brought |
about largely by production men gath |
cred in Washington. Many IN the same |
learned all about one another |
and costs and prices. and this knowl- |
EDGE, It is decltred, 10 having an effect |
IN Industrial dealings. Prices and pro-