New-York tribune., 1919-08-07


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that the act be continued in effect for
a considerable period after the rati-
fcation of the peace treaty.
Only Hoarders Involved
The Lever act provides penalties for
boarding, but none for protiteering.
The President is expected to recon-
mend that heavy profteerirg penalties
be provided, and that they be extend
ed to retail distributors of all neces
sites. The penalties at present provid
ed for boarding may be inflicted only
annual business of more than 100000
The President is convinced that much
of the responsibility for the present
high prices rests with retailers and un
der the present law individual profit
GERS are hard to get at.
Attorney General Palmer indicated
to-day that the Department of Justice
has ample power under existing law to
deal with "the big fellows" but is en-
barrassed in its activities by insult
iicient authority to cope with retail
profteerng. Until Congress confers
additional authority, he said. individual
profteers must be got at by extra
legal means
Whether the prosecutions would be
civil or criminal the Attorney General
declined to state, merely recalling that
the law provided for both.
Jail Sentences Suggested
The history of all the governments S
antitrust prosecutions in twenty-five
years does not show a single individual
ever serving a jail sentence for viola
ton. There are evidences that the
government hopes For some in the pres
ent campaign.
The prosecution Of the Big Five
packers under the antitrust laws will
be directed by Isdor j. Kresel. OF the
New York law firm of Jerome, Rand &
.Kresel, who has been busy for several
months searching out evidence from the
thred reports Of the Federal Trade
Commission and the record of the Sen
ate Agricultural Commiss on's investi-
cation of the packers at the last ses-
sion. A fourth report by the Federal
srrade Commission dealing with the
packers profits is in preparation, and
..much of the information it contains
Gas been furnished to Mr.. Krcsel Mr.
Palmer declined to indicate to-day Just
when or where the Federal suit against
Che packers will be filed.
Palmer Announces Policy
His statement announcing the intcn-
4ion of the Department Of Justice to
lame dCliOu OSdlNSt INC DtChcIS lOi-
Vows:
THE Department of Justice has
made careful review of the evil
enced developed by the investigation
into the combination of packers. both
by the Federal Trade Commission
and the hearings before the COM
mittees OF Congress. This review
has been made by lawyers specially
retained for the purpose, and their
hand
isfied that the evidence adduced in
dicates clear violation of the anti
trust laws, and prompt action will be
taken accordingly. Further proceed
ings, while under the immediate
direction of the Department of jus
tlce. will be in charge Of Isdor j,
kresel of the law firm of Jerome,
Rand e. Kressel. of New York, VINO
Will be given such assistance as the
case seems to warrant
BY "combination of packers" Mr.
Palmer said he meant Swift & Co.
Armour g. Co., Morris & Co, Cudahs
Packing Company and Wilson & Co
He declined to say whether crimina
or civil suits would be instituted, bu,
said the law made provision for both
He would not say in what jurisdiction
the suits would be brought.
At the time the Attorney Genera
made this statement Z. f. Wilson, heat
of Wilson q Co., was testifying before
the Senate committee investigating the
high cost of living in Washington.
"You don't have to pass any spe>ia
laws to get at the packers If there
have been violations of the law" Mr.
Wilson told the committee. "There art
plenty of laws on the statute book.
to permit the filing of suits againsr
them, if anything can be developed a.
basis for such SUITS
"ls it your opinion that as long as
the courts are open we can bring the
packers to trial if they are GUILTY OK o1
wrongdong?" Senator Sherman asked
Packers Declared Gun Shy"
at certainly is" Mr. Wilson replied
emphatically "But | don't believe vo,
can find anything approaching law
breaking against the packers The,
are gun shy of breaking the laws
They have been so bounded for year.
might even suspect was violation Of
the law"
After he had read Attorney Genera
Palmer's statement Mr.. Wilson said
Now we shall see" Mr. Palmer mad,
the identical remark when told of Mr.
Wilson's testimony.
The Attorney Generals telegram t,
United States attorneys pointed ou
that wherever foods are boarded in VIC
lation of the Lever act they may b.
proceeded against by process of Ibe
for condemnation. He directed fui
Investigations of boarding and prof
iteering everywhere. and ordered tha
arrests be made without further in
structions wherever the evidence JUST
fed.
His telegram follows:
"The food control act. which is
still in force, in Section 6 makes
boarding of necessares as therein de-
fined crime, and Section provides
that whenever necessaries shall be
boarded they may be proceeded
H@ainst by process OF. libel for CON
vsomnation. There is much complaint
ssa the country about the extensive
stQrage of food products, which in
k&NNy instances may amount to vie
s6r of the law.
Prompt Action Is Urged
"Yeu are directed immediately to
~ L. e.