New-York tribune., 1919-08-14

to engage in any discriminatory and
unfair, or any deceptive or wasteful
practise or device. or to make any
UNJUST or unreasonable rate or
charge, in handling OF dealing in or
with any other person, (a) to limit
the facilities for transporting, pro-
ducing harvesting, manufacturing,
supplying, storing or dealing in any
necessaries; (b) to restrict the sup
ply of any necessaries; (c) to re-
strict distribution of any neces-
saries; ,(d) to prevent, limit or
lessen the manufacture or produc-
tion of ally necessaries in order to
enhance the price thereof, or (e) to
exact excessive prices for any neces-
saries; or to aid or abet the doing
of any act made unlawful by this
section. Any person violating any
of the provisions of this section,
upon conviction thereof. shall be
fined not exceeding $4,000 or be i'm
prisoned for not more than two
years, or both"
Makes Offences Penal
The last sentence is the only new
matter in the section suggested by Mr..
Palmer, but this sentence has the eff
feet of making the practices that here
tofore have been declared "illegal,
but for which no punishment has been
prescribed, penal offences.
In the first section of the act, which
defines necessaries. Mr.. Palmer sug-
gestcd the insertion Of the words
wearing apparel, the containers in
which foods, feeds and fertilizers are
Sold Senator Gronna indicated that
there would be some opposition in the
Agricultural Committee to this
change.
what Mr.. Palmer purposes would
limit rather than broaden his powers, "
Mr.. Gronna said. "UnmoGified 'neces-
saries is very broad word and could
be made to cover practically every
commodity"
No mention of an extension of the
time the food control act shall remain
In effect was made in the Attorney
Generals letter. An extension of time
was suggested by the President in his
address, but Mr.. Palmer explained that
such a request would undoubtedly lead
to long controversy in the House and
Senate. He wished the amendments
he suggested acted on Immediately
The extension of time could wait, he
said.
Plans Antitrust Suits
The million dollar appropriation to
be asked by the Attorney General will
be used exclusively in the prosecution
of profiteers and hoarders after the
food control act has been amended
In addition he will ask for 100000 to
employ special attorneys in the pros
ccutlOn OF various antitrust Suits the
department is about to undertake and
100000 for other lines of work not
connected with the high cost of living
contest.
United States Attorneys were author
izcd IN kilograms to-day to publish n
locally all information on foodstuffs
districts for an unreasonable length Of
time. The information to be pub
ished would include the length Of time
the food has been held, the name Of the
owner and the amounts held.
Reports from state Governors to-day
say great quantities Of food are being
held in their states, but they are un-
able to interfere because the food in
many cases is being held for shipment
into other states. Only the Federal
government can intervene in cases of
food held for shipment in interst tate
commerce. The Attorney General said
prompt action would be taken on the
information supplied by state Gov
ernors.
The agents of the Department OF
Justice in New Jersey have been in
structed 20 Investigate reports that fish
are being thrown back into the sea
after being caught, in order to hold up
the price. If this information is found
to be correct Immediate prosecutions
will be ordered.
Willing to Aid Campaign
All but two of the state food admin
istrators requested by the Attorney
General to assist in the campaign to
bring down living costs who have re
piled thus far have indicated their
Willingness to serve. The two who did
not wish to resume their former duties
under the food administration said
they were unable to do so because they
could not afford to pay ftr the neces-
sary clerical help. An appropriation
for'clerlcal help for state food admin
istrators will be asked by the Attorne,
General.
The estimates of the Department of
Labor and the Department. of Com
merce, calling for nearly a million dol
lars in additional appropriations to 81
low them to take part in the high cost
of living campaign. were received with
some surprise by Congress.
Secretary Redheld outlined the pur-
poses for which the appropriations he
requested would be used, but Secretary
Wilson merely listed PIP special agent 5
he wished to employ for periods rang
ing from one to ten months and the
salaries he proposed to pay.
Would Settle Strikes
"By reason of the crisis partly caused
by the high cost of living" the Secre-
tary of Labor explained, "the above
appropriation i$475,000} is requested
in order that the Department of Labor
may be enabled thereby to assist in
combating and coping herewith"
1t was assumed in Congress that the
Department of Labor would use the
money in settling strikes and in other