Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-12-23

appealed. Results of Investigations
are now being laid before grand
jury in several districts and reports
of large numbers of indictments are
expected in the near future. Where
ever possible, a determined effort
will be made to obtain Jail SEN
| fences.
Very Solemn Duty.
"a very solemn duty to assist in
reducing the cost of living and par
ticularly to eliminate profiteering,
rests upon honest and responsible
business men of all classes. To
bring about cooperation in this di-
rection the national organizations
representing the different trade in
terests have been approached. Very
helpful cooperation has been OBJ
tanned which has had marked tend
ency not only to stop the upward
trend of prices, but in some in
stances to decrease prices.
"The National Retail Clothing
Dealers association has recently
established their prewar margins OF
profit as being fair and have so adj
vsed their entire membership, rep
resenting approximately 90 per cent
of the retail clothing dealers OF
America. They have also appointed
diligence committee, to hunt up
profteers within their membership
and report to the United States at
torney IN their respective districts
violations of margins of profits as
set up By their organization. These
profits show from S to 50 per cent
reduction over prevailing profits OF
past few months.
"The National Retail Shoe Deal
ers' association has appointed an
executive committee to confer for
the purpose of re-establishing SIM
liar rule within their organization.
The National Retail Drygoods as
ISOLATION, representing some 10000
stores in the United States, is co.
operating with the Department OF
Justice in establishing prominently
economy departments during yanu-
arv and February. Several of the
larger manufacturers associations,
as we'll as wholesale and retail
merchants associations, have APP
pointed committees to confer with
agents Of the Department OF justice
and are putting their entire machln-
ery at the disposal OF the depart
nlent to carry out programs to the
membership. Such efforts will be
extended to other like organizations
to cooperate toward reduced profits:
"Beyond this the Department OF
Justice has instituted a thorough
going and nationwide campaign, par,
ticipated in by thousands OF men and
women, bringing about regulations
in the cost of living through edit
cation and through moral suasion.
In a. states this campaign is pro-
actively. The work in all
Of them is directed from Washing
ton, is being done by fair price COM
or United States: attor.,
news. Very soon organizations OF
the remaining states will be COM
pleted. Three states have passed
laws creating commissions or other
machinery for the protection OF
their citizens against proflteers. The
women of the country, in whose
hands rests the power to largely
control the cost Of living through
purchase, have been organized to
carry certain educational facts to the
and buying public as well
as to determine fair prices in local
and to hunt out the
orohteers and report violations OF
The Lever act.
Women Do Good Work.
"The women's organizations OF
he country have already done SPLEEN
lid work in this direction and are
expected to cooperate still further.
It has been thought advisable to
work through organizations already |
;et up and functioning in the dit
erent states, rather than to set up |
separate organization solely for !
his purpose.
primarily, the notably factors in
solved in the cost of living are
he needed increase in production,
he elimination of extravaganza
,uying and the determined hunting
Town of profiteers of all classes.
believe that the time now has
come when the organization of the
has been completed to the
Joint where real results can be
shown. The cost of living, already
lnder control, can be reduced if
everyone who produces will produce
lis utmost, If those who buy and
consume will save and eliminate
extravaganza. and If all honest peo-
Die will join the Department of
Justice in stamping out prohteering
md boarding"
The officials attending the confer
nee, at which the statement was
and who, it is under
tood. are prepared to make the
statement the basis for solution of
ny problems within their jurisdic-
ion involving the cost of living,
n addition to Attorney General Pal
ner, were Secretaries Daniels and
Chairman Murdoch and
Commissioner Colver of the Federal
trade commission, Assistant Secre-
ary of the Treasury Leffingwell,
Assistant Attorney General Ames,
Director General Hines and Spe-
ial Assistant to the Attorney Cen
raj Figg.