The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-13
FOOD
PRICESDUE TO .
COMBINATION
Senate Committee Ready to Go
Limit in Hunting Down AZ
legged conspiratOrs.

Conndsnt that the era Of high
profts in washington from food
prices and rents is traeeable directly
TO . combination OF real estate deal
ers and food producers, the Ssnatss
District Committee Is going 70 Try e.
.'bust' that combination II . lsgiS-
lative way can be found.
When the committee meets tomor-t
row afternoon at she call cf Chair
man Sherman, 1t will be ready to
submit TO the Senate q resolution
giving blanket authority C 20 ahead
In its investigation OF the high enst
OF living IS "a as the trail leads
whether this trail will lead up q
blind alley or whether IL viii lead TO
the door OF the conspiracy chamber"
the committee Is not certain. Beii-v-
ing they scent nothing less than
conspiracy TO boos. The living eos
in the District. the committees is pre-
pared to 50 the limit in huntins
down the supposed eonspiratorA
Senator's are too much concerned
themselves with the hign cost of'thef
meals and their apartments, members
Of the committee assert. for them 70
turn down the investigation rrsolu-
ton.
Gathered Much Data.
Not only does the committee claim
that food prices are higher IN wash
inEton than in any other large city in
the United States. but they assert
further that they will back up the
claim with indisputable figures. Dur
ing the agitation Of the question, Gov
eminent bureaus and local organiza-
lions have been hard at work gather
ing a mass OF data that win be turn
ed loose when the investigates astu-
ally begins
While the Investigation primarily
viii deal with food prices and rents.
Il is possible the whole category Of
commodities viii be brought into the
limelight before II IL ended. Senator
sherman intends to follow up every
by-path that promises results.
Members OF the committee believe
that Congress Is empowered to legis-
late, II found necessary, to prevent
prices from soaring any higher than
they now are. They believe that a
halfway" Investigation can produce
no results, and that residents OF the
District are not content to let the
question rest until Congress takes
some definite action.
As soon as the Senate adopts the
resolution. which viii meet no OPP
position. It Is believed. Senator Sher-.
man viii designate q subcommittee
with instructions to speed up" the
Investigation.
To Hear Everybody.
witnesses viii be given every op-
portunity to appear before the com
mittee. Wholesale dealers. retailers.
| jobbers all will be invited to state
their case. On the other hand. the
consumer who buys directly from
the city markets for the home table
will play an important part In the
Investigation.
Washington real estate dealers who
fatty deny the existence Of any con-
spiracy to increase rents upon the
| expiration of the salisbury anti-avic-
ton law, likewise will have ample op-
lportunity to make this denial In per-
son before the investigators Then. too,
District residents who say they can
furnish proof that they have been
served notice that their rents are to
be increased, will be permitted to
voice their opinions.
II a combination exists, Senator
fisherman says he intends to locate
it; failing to locate ii. the committee
at least expects to ind the reasons
for the increased cost OF living in
the District, which they declare -
out Of all proportions as compared
with increased prices in other near
by cities.