The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-08-08
GOING OVER THE TOP
AFTER PROFlTEERS.
Government to Prosecute Food
Sharks and Hoarders-Reports
From the Front.


try's unrest.
President Wilson decided to ad
dress message to congress recon-
;snending additional legislation to aid
Sn reducing the cost of living.
Agents Of the department of JUS
stice were ordered to ferret out all
.hoarders of necessaries and profit
,eers throughout the country. They
are to be prosecuted under the food
control act.
Price of Wheat.
Director Julius H. Barnes of the
grain corporation, decided to main
tain the governments guarantee on
wheat at S2.26 bushel as reserve
protection against a higher price
later"
At the conclusion of days activ-
ity by the president, the sub-commit-
tee of the cabinet appointed by At
torney Gen. Palmer, and by the At
torney General himself, announce
ments were made of these immediate
steps to be taken and of the govern
ment's wheat policy.
To Readjust Flour Prices
In a lengthy statement showing
why the price Of wheat would rise
but for the government guarantee,
Director Barnes promised readJust-
ment of flour prices at the expense
of the national treasury as author
lied by congress, if later develop
ments indicated world-price for
wheat lower than the guarantee
: basis.
Immediate steps will be taken by
the grain corporation to sell stand
ard export flour in every community
of the country in carload lots at a
price not greater than $40 a barrel,
Mr.. Barnes announced. This price,
he added, is lower by 81 barrel than
any price ruling during the last four
months.
Predicts Shrinkage.
Using figures as described as COM
ing from the grain corporations
own private sources, Mr.. Barnes pre-
dicted shrinkage of probably
400 600, 900 bushels in the wheat
production for North America, $780,
100000 bushels of which is in the
United States, from the June fore
cast, and further shrinkage in
European wheat and rye production
of 30O,O0O,O00 bushels outside Rus
ssia.
The high cost of living was not dis
@cussed at the regular Tuesdays cab
ssnet meeting, but Attorney General
Palmer remained after the meeting
$50 confer with the president and pre-
scented memoranda prepared by the
stating what the gov
aernment was doing and what it pro-
!poses doing under existing laws, and
possible additional laws, to cope with
the situation.
After Prof;seers.
The department of justice agents
throughout the country, the attorney
said on leaving the president, have
been ordered to institute special pro-
sceedings to find evidence of hoard
ing and profiteering as prohibited
under the Lever food control act and
prosecutions will be instituted with
out delay. -.
Attorney General Palmer declined |
TO disclose what remedial laws were
suggested to the president, or to go
into detail as to how the department
would proceed under the existing
saes beyond saying that operating
SMder the Lever act did not mean the
functions functions of the food administration !
would se assumed by the department ;
Of justice.
Some Doubt Expressed.
) Doubt was expressed by some legal /,
authorities of the department as to
whether a penalty is possible for
'profiteering under the food control
act although fines and imprisonment
are provided for boarding. The at
ssrsey general would not go into this
phase OF the problem, saying that it
was his belief and hope that immedi- !
ate steps toward decreasing the cost
Of l91ing could be taken under exist
ang laws: t
. Secretary Tumulty said after Dl- !
rector Barnes had left the president !,
that no statement would be forth !
coming from the White House be- !
>vond the mere announcement that
n,a nresident 'will address message