Evening journal., 1919-08-07

administration measure.
Mr.. palmer's telegram 10 the district
attorneys follows;
"The food-control act which is still
In force, in Section 6, makes boarding
OF necessarieS therein defined a Grim
inal offensc, and Section 7 provides that
whenever neocssaries shall be boarded
they may be proceeded against by pro
cess Of libel for condemnation. There
Is much complaint in the country
about the extensive storage OF food
products, which in many instances may
amount TO a violation OF the law.
Orders Arrests Made
"You are directed 10 Immediately EN-
ploy an the facilities az your command
and make use Of all available sources
OF information 10 seek out all dealers
guilty OF boarding within the meaning
Of the act and 20 ascertain II any
other respect these provisions Of the
food control act have been violated in
your district.
please proceed with promptness and
diligence 10 make a thorough going in
vestlgaiion Of conditions in your dis
trict with respect 10 possible violations
OF this law, and of the antitrust laws,
and when The evidence warrants. see
that arrests are made without further
instructions. This ia business OF prime
importance which demands your im-
mediate personal attention. Conditions
require a country-wide campaign
against hoarders and pronteers, and
desire the Department Of Justice 10 use
IN
end 10 their activities.
Official launching OF the govern
ment's campaign Of prosecution against
proflteers and the packers came on the
heels Of an announcement by the Fed
eral Trade Commission that its investi-
cation OF the prices OF hides, leather
and shoes left no doubt that "intoler-
able prices" were heng charged the
American people and there was prof.
teering all along the line from the pro-
duction Of hides by the packers to the
delivery OF shoes 10 the consumers.
The trade commissions report rec
commended action under the antitrust
acts against the various factors In the
hide and leather industry, which have |
monopolisilc methods 80 |
maintain eXOrbitant prices, and sug- /
gosted tho complete separation by lega. |
legislation OF the packers from the |
leather business.
10 was indicated In an official quarter |
that the President ordered this report /
made public without delay. The report /
was written some weeks ago, but has
not been printed, and It's fun text VIII i
not be available for several days yet. /
The federal trade commission Will
make public today a statement On the /
amount OF food supplies held in dry and /
cold storage. and Mr.. palmer's specific /
reference TO Section 7 or the food-con-
trol act against storage Of food TO such |
a point as 60 constitute boarding max
ing such supplies subject to seizure by |
the government. was taken TO Indicate |
that drastic steps may be expected /
along that line.
The explanation OF Julius II. Barnes, |
head OF the governments grain cor
of his stand In opposition to /
'hreaking" OF the wheat market by |
selling wheat at $3.50 a bushel and |
have the government bear the differ
enoe between that figure snd the 1926 |
price guaranteed tho farmer, was not |
10 many members OF Con |
gress. who believe one step toward re- |
duction OF prices could be made in that
manner.
one OF the chief points OF Mr..
Barnes argument was That There is
nothing 10 support the theory OF an |
Intimate relationship and influence be-
tween the price OF wheat and Of other |
foods" Members Of Congress Insisted |
tonight that such a contention was not |
borne out by the showing OF corn and |
other grains on the stock market to- /
day. when extensive buying on the I
basis Of the governments decision not /
10 break the wheat price resulted in /
advances in corn. barley, pork and 1
other commodities on the Chicago mar /
ket
Mr.. Barnes suggestion that the sell /
ing OF wheat at si.6i a bushel In order
70 reduce the price Of loaf Of bread (
from 10 10 Q cents would result In eX-
tenslve buying OF American flour by
the British and French, who are main
tanning artificial bread and flour prices
under the plan proposed here en-
countered the view OF Congressman /
that this contingency could be met by
an embargo on exports.
lntimations in some newspapers that
the Federal Government In its crusade
against food profiteers might obtain in
valuable information on which to be-
gin IFS legal steps from the income and
excess profits taxes reports to the Bu-
reau Of Internal Revenue of the |
Treasury Department and the cost
sheets to the Federal Trade Commits |
sion In its inulirips drew from George I
II. Gushing. managing director Of the /
American Wholesale Coal Association, !
4 vigorous protest against such course. /
Mr.. Cushing. in an open letter TO Ed |
ward B. Mclean, publisher Of The /
Post, declared III was easy
o see" That the suspicion Of the gov
rnment might make such US of its tax
nd trade reports, arose from the COM
,osilion Of the special cabinet sub
which prepared the recon-
on which the government
ow is acting to reduce The cost Of liv-
a