Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-08-08
Statewide Investigation of Al
legged Profiteering Ordered
by Assistant United States
Attorney Peterson at Once.
WORK TO BE DONE
UNDER LEVER FOOD ACT
Measure Provides for Fine of
$1,000 for Wi||fuI Hoarding
of NeCessities-Stock Sub.
ject to Seizure and Sale.

"A statewide probe OF alleged
food profiteers" was ordered yes
terday by Assistant United States
Attorney Peterson. Department of
! Justice agents of Omaha were in
structed to commence gathering
evidence at once.
Specific authority to make the
necessary Investigations under pro-
visions of the Lever food control
act was received yesterday in the
district attorneys office from A.
Mitchell Palmer, attorney general
of the United States.
Appeals To Citizens.
In connection with the instruc-
tions given to Department of JUS
tce agents, Attorney Peterson. act
ing in the absence of United States
Attorney Allen, who is now in Min
nesota, issued statement appeal
ing to private citizens to assist in
the campaign against perpetrators
of high food prices.
The statement follows:
The officers of the govern
ment have been instructed to
make arrests in all cases where
the evidence warrants. The De-
partment of Justice will use every
legal means available to put an
end TO the activities of hoarders
and profiteers. All employees of
corporations and any other per-
sons who have information should
have no hesitancy in revealing
same.
Act Provides Fines.
That part of the Lever food con-
troll act, passed August 10, 1917, as
a/war remedy. which is being used
by the authorities at Washington as
a whip in the prosecution of prof.
teers, is as follows:
|. Willful boarding of neces-
saries also subjects the offender to
fine of $4,000 and Imprisonment
for two years, or both.
z. Hoarding of neeessaries also
subjects the stock to seizure and
sale. The willful destruction of
any necessaries for the purpose
of enhancing the price or restrict
ing the supply makes the offender
liable to hnc of $4,000 or i'm
prisonment of two years, or both.
8, The act also provides
against conspiracies to enhance
the prices of necessaries and sub
jects the offenders to fine of
$4,000 and Imprisonment of two
years, or both.
Will Cooperate With State.
Unofficially it was stated that gov
ernmeut officials here would CO.
operate with State Attorney Gen
eral Davis WHO has been instructed
by Governor McKelvie to begin ar
exhaustive lnvestiga ton into alleged
profteering. A meeting of states
officials will be held Thursday at
Lincoln to discuss the situation and
outline a program.
The exposure by the Omaha Bee
of storage of millions of pounds Of
meats by the packers and other
firms of the city yesterday served
to enhance the interest that is being
taken in the probe. County Attor.
ney Shotwell, speaking of the ex-
posure and alleged profiteering il
general, said:
81 understand that the governor
is quoted as saying that he has pow
ers under the new code system tc
investigate and lay bare profiteerine
in the state This, if true, will be a
great help in the present campaign
against profiteers. Heretofore the
state has been hampered, as there
is no law on the statute books which
calls any person who sells goods al
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