The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-23
Palmer's Programme for
Reaching PrOfiteer I'm
changed in House.
PRISON TERN PROVIDED
War Time Regulations Ex-
tended to Wearing
Apparel.
SNAG IN UPPER CHAMBER
Members of Subcommittee and
Attorney-General Reach
Deadlock.
SNAG IN UPPER CHAMBER
Special Despdfch 10 The SuN.

WAsH1N0roN, Aug. 22.-Without q
dissenting vote and without amend
ment the House authorized to-day the
additional legislation sought by At
torney General Palmer in his cam
paign to combat the high cost Of liv-
ing and to reduce the prices Of the
necessaries OF life. The additional au-
thority asked by the Attorney-Gen-
eral was in an amendment to the
Lever food control act and included
these powers:
Authority to prosecute ell prof.
teering retailers or hoarders.
Extension OF the drastic war
time regulations to all wearing ap-
parel, food containers and fertil-
izers.
Provision for a fine of $1,000 and
imprisonment for two years as
punishment for all violations.
The measure was passed by the
House exactly as 1t was reported from
the Agricultural Committee. which
had sought suggestions from the At
torney-General before Offering 1t In
the form of legislation. All efforts TO
confer greater powers Of regulation
on the Government were defeated be-
fore the vote was taken in the House.
For a time during the debate It ap-
peared that power would be given the
Federal Government to prosecute all
landlords who have taken the present
situation as the excuse for extorting
large profits in rents. An amendment
by Representative Huddleston (Ala)
to extend the war regulations to rents
first was adopted by the House, but
later the action was recalled and de-
feated by vote Of 1872 to r. The first
vote was 6S to ~ in favor of tho
amendment.
OIL Products Not Included.
An unsuccessful attempt was made
by Representative Strong (Kan) to
regulate kerosene and gasolene with a
view Of bringing down the high cost of
motoring, but this was defeated, 65
to As.
Representative Kelly (Pa.) wanted
to make it compulsory that all guilty
pr rofiteers be sent to Jail as well as be-
ing fined. but this was voted down as
we'll.
The bill grants specific exemption to
farmers and farm organizations from
Federal regulations. although Repre-
sentatives OF the city districts made a
futile effort to authorize prosecution of
these classes II they profiteer. All
anne ndments to include the farmers
were voted down by overwhelming
ma jorities. clearly showing the strength
OF the farmer vote in the present
House. City members argued that the
farmers would have nothing to fear
Under the law II they were as good as
their Representatives said, but the
rural members asserted the producers
had received a raw deal' for so long
there was no occasion to take any
chances
Extension OF the food control act for
two years also was asked by Repre-
sentative Huddleston. but this was de-
feated by large vote.
Senate Is Less Favorable.
The programme Of Attorney General
Palmer struck a snAg to-day in the
Senate Agricultural Committee. when it
became evident that the views of the
members OF tho committee are diamet-
rically adverse TO those OF the Admin
istrations chief legal officer and that
any legislation looking toward the for
tification Of the wartime food control
bill or the extension OF that measure
beyond the date OF the proclamation OF
peace practically was impossible. This
became evident following a conference
between a subcommittee appointed by
Chairman Gronna IN. d. OF the Senate
Agricultural Committee and the Attor-
ney- General.
The subcommittee. meeting with the
Attorney-General In his Office, reached a
deadlock in their discussions. The Sen
ators returned TO the Capitol after three
suggestions had been submitted to them.
None OF the suggestions is acceptable in
It's present form and both Senators Ken
yon Gowa) and Smith (Ga-). expressed
the opinion that the Agricultural Com
mittee would amend radically II Il did
! not defeat them. The three suggestions
before the committee are:
The establishing OF prices deemed
in the course OF the war TO have been
fair and reasonable by the United
States Food Administration TO be set
up as fair prices now.
That the voluntary fair price COM
mlttees now being organized by the
Department OF Justice in all sections
OF the country be legallzed and all
dealers charging more than fair
prices set by such committees be
| prosecuted as profteers.
| That fair prices for food and cloth
ing dealers shall be defined by law
as prices not exceeding the cost OF