Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-08-19
AFTER THE PRoFITEERs.
Attorney General Palmer Has lnsti
tuted Vigorous Campaign.

tuted Vigorous Campaign.
Washington, Aug. 14.-Indications OF
the real punch behind the govern
ment's campaign to reduce the high
cost Of living were given today in un-
mistakable fashion in many cities.
While Attorney General Palmer was
telling the senate agriculture commit
tee that he intended to prosecute every
dealer guilty Of selling at higher prices
than those listed by the Fair Price Com
mittees of each county. word came
from Chicago, st. Louis, and Birming-
ham Of seizures Of great quantities Of
foodstuffs by Federal officials. who re-
Gently were instructed to proceed un-
der the food control act to stop hoard
ing.
In Chicago 1882 tubs Of butter,
worth $4,000, were seized; in st.
Louis 2S4,1S0 pounds Of coffee, which
has been showing rapid advances in
prices, and in Birmingham 100 bar
rels Of sugar.
Mr.. Palmer told the senate commit
tee that he believed the great majority
of farmers and food dealers were not
profiteering, but that the suggested
amendment to the food control act ex-
tending it to clothing and providing a
criminal penalty Of $1,000 fine or two
years Imprisonment or both, was nee
essary to make effective the campaign
against those who are dishonesty
gouging the public.
There was a division Of opinion
among the senators as to the advisioil-
ity of the legislation. several declaring
that the amendment gave the depart
ment of justice too drastic powers over
commerce, while others questioned the
constitutionality Of extending the life
of the food control act beyond the de-
claration OF peace, as has been sug-
gested.
"Given this penalty, we can break
the backbone Of this profiteering In
sixty days." Mr.. Palmer retorted crisp
", "and then you won't have to worry
about constitutionality."
The house agricultural committee
proceeded with cold storage legislation
today and announced that tomorrow
the amendment to the food control act
would be taken up, with Assistant AT
torney General Ames discussing the
need for It in the campaign to reduce
prices.
Mayors Of fifty New Jersey cities
made arrangements to appear oerore
the committee Mo lday to demand that
something effectiv be done to mitigate
the hardships under which the man OF
average income is suffering.
Absent members Of the house were
ordered tonight to return to Washlng-
ton at once, when it became apparent
that the agriculture committee Wouid
report out the new legislation next
week. Republican Leader Mondeii
and Minority Leader Clark declared
they were determined to have a
quorum present Monday.
While the more drastic method OF
prosecutions will be used by the de-
partment Of justice to punish and stop
fragrant cases Of profiteering, 1t was
made clear today that the still effective
licensing provisions Of the food con-
troll act would be invoked to reach
dealers against whom no indictment
dould be found in federal courts. VI
fcials of the food administration noti-
fed the department that II cents was
fair price for sugar, and this infor-
nation was transmitted to district at
torneys, with the significant statement
that where higher prices were being
charged there evidently was profiteer-
ing.
The department Of agriculture today
asked for more than 100000 from
congress for establishing Information
centres in various cities, which would
collect and disseminate Information
concerning prices.