The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-14
Attorney-General SaysLow-
er Price Campaign Is
Bearing Fruit.
SOME VALUES FALLING
Asks Employment of Spe-
cial Counsel for PrOsecu-
tiOn of PrOfiteers.
HOUSE LEADER WARNS
Representative Mondell Says
Millions Sought Must Not Be
Used as Patronage.
HOUSE LEADER WARNS
Special Despatch 10 THn sus.

|
General Palmer announced to-day that
he would ask for an appropriation Of
81. 500 900 with which to prosecute
antitrust suits and actions against
food hoarders and prohteers in the
drive to bring down the high cost Of
living.
Requests already made by the Ad-
ministration for funds for this purpose
! total another million and a half. The
Department Of Commerce, the Depart
ment Of Labor and the Census Bureau
all requested appropriations to-day fol-
lowing request from the Federal
Trade Commission and the Treasury
| yesterday. In all the Administration
proposes to increase the cost of Gov
ernment by at least t3,00O,o 900 in ef-
forts to reduce the cost of living.
Other requests for appropriations
doubtless will be made. This drive for
funds brought considerable Republican
criticism.
Attorney General Palmer wants his
appropriation to hire special counsel
for antitrust suits. for use In compil-
inE evidence, and to finance the volun-
teer organizations Of former Federal
food administrators throughout the
country who have enlisted in the cam
paign.
Heavier Penalties Urged.
In addition to the appropriations the
Government moved to-day to broaden
the food control act to increase penal
ties against hoarders and profiteers.
ana to give the Government closer
control over all wearing apparel and
other commodities in the necessities
class. which go into the cost OF IivinS
The new penalties asked provide
nnes Of not more than $4,000 and i'm
prisonment for not more than two
years.
Instructions were sent to every Fed
eral attorney giving full approval OF the
department. Of Justice to making public
the names OF all persons known to be
large holders OF foodstuffs in storage
Ihis Is expected to have some effect In
bringing out supplies and reducing stor-
age stocks through the pressure of pub
lie opinion.
Attorney-General Palmer is optimistic
ever the situation and said there were
evidences in many localities that tho
Government campaign against prices
was bearing fruit. There is a downward
tendency to food prices in many locaIi-
ties. it was asserted.
The Attorney General regards an ad-
eitional appropriation from Congress as
absolutely necessary to prosecute the
work of his department in pressing anti
trust suits and local actions through
out the country against food law vts-
lators.
Additional Counsel Necessary.
1t is expected that several antitrust
suits will follow the action of the De-
partment of Justice in bringing suit
against the Portland cement manufac-
tuIers on a charge of conspiracy to limit
production and to 1x and increase prices.
The coming suits, II Is understood, Will
affect several basic industries, which fur
n!sh raw materials which go into the
necessaries OF life. Building materials.
It is said. will not be overlooked In the
campaign.
There is great need in the opinion
of Attorney General Palmer for the
hiring OF special counsel by the Govern
ment to prosecute these cases The
personnel OF the department Is limited
and the number OF cases promises to be
large.
While former Federal Food Admins
traitors and other officials are working
voluntarily in the campaign, 1t is neces-
sary to finance In some way the report
ing and investigating organizations they
are building up. In many cases they
are using the offices OF Federal Attor-
neya. and while there is no absolute
necessity for quarters for them, in many
cases they have developed an acute need
for an Office force and at present there
is no appropriation available with which
to furnish one. Surplus funds from the
old Food Administration have been
turned back to the Government
Republicans Issue Warming.
Republican leaders to-day said the ap-
proprlation requests would have prompt
consideration in the House, but warned
that no moves to increase Government
expenditures by creation of unnecessary
employees would be allowed. Chairman
Good Qowa) OF the House Appropria-
tions Committee returned to Washington
to-day and conferred with victor Mur-
dock. acting chairman OF the Federal
Trade Commission, regarding his re-
quest OF yesterday for $500. 900 to investi-
gate the cost Of commodities. Hearings
will follow this week.
In asking for extensions OF the Food
Control act the Attorncy-General wrote
Senator Gronna IN. d. and Represen-
tatlve Haugen (lowa). chairmen of the
Senate and House Agriculture Commit
tees respectively, as follows:
The only changes In existing law
made by this draft have the effect Of
adding wearing apparel" and 'tse