New-York tribune., 1919-08-14
Government Begins IL
Price Cutting War ON
Retailers by Slashine
Army Stores Schedule
Contest Assumes
A Wider Scope
Palmer Seeks TO Put
Teeth i'm Control Bill bv
Providing Prison Terms
.Ncu York Tr7bprs
Washington RBreau

.NfN oFf rfhhrs
Washington BBreau
WASHINGTON, Aug. f3.- Prepare
tons FOR finish fight against tho
high cost Of living by Congress and
the executive departments moved for
ward a. rapid pace to-day
Attorney General Palmer asked Com
gress TO extend tho food control act "a
include wearing apparel and food con-
taiaers and 30 make nroiitcerinp nun-
ishable ny two Years Imprisonment
aid $4,000 fine He announced that he
would ask at later date for ST an
preparation Of 100000 10 detect and
prosecute hoarders and profteers. ard
100000 for the prosecution OF anti
trust law violators
Other developments Of the dav were:
Federal agents seized nearly two
and one-half millions eggs and im-
mense quantities Of canned goods
and other commodities in warehouses
in Tampa, Fla, and Chattanooga,
Tenn
suit in equity charging vlola-
tons Of the sherman law was fled
at Trenton. \. j.. against the Cement
Manufacturers Protective A~socia-
ton. embracing all the large. manu-
facturers OF Portland cement. by the
Department of Justice. The govern
ment asked that the association be
adjudged combination and con
spiracy in restraint Of trade.
The War Department announced
sweeping reductions IN the prices Of
surplus army foods;;.;sss to be sold to
the public by parcel post begin
ming August Is, such reductions be-
ing intended to meet cuts in price
made by food dealers in anticipation
of the government sales Postmaster
General Burleson issued rules to gov
ern the army food sales
The Department oi Labor askci
Congress % appropriate $4,000 and
the Department OF Commerce asked
$4,000 70 allow them to assis. m
inc campaign 20 bring prices dowr.
The special Senate committee on
the high cost Of living held its frs
meeting to day and will meet again
tomorrow 10 map ont its policy n
seeking a solution Of the price prob
lem. Chairman Townsend viii seek
to have all legislation dealing with
the cost Of living emergency sent
to his special committee.
Prompt Action Promised
Meetings of the Senate and Hou.
Agricultural committees wcre called
for tomorrow to take action on At
torney General Palmel's request for
extension Of the food control act
The rcques. IS already before A sub
committee OF the House committee
and Chairman Gronua promised def
mite action by his committee to-
morrow.
Majority Leader Monden Of tho
House said appropriations asked To-
IN the fight on the Aigh COZ a.
living, which with Attoinev General
Palmer's forthcoming request foe
$l,200,00o amount to S2,o35.r0o. VIII
be considered promptly BIZ the House.
Sonotor Mcclellan, Democrat, -
Tennessee. urgod the Senate TO ac-
on his bill for the regulation 81
cold forage. Asserting hat the
packers are bringing every rowef 3,
their command to bear against hs
Congress to show whether n would
line up with the people OF with thu
packers
Representative Huddleston. Demo-
crat OF Alabama. charged ia ths
House that the National Coal. Asso->.
clation is Withholding coal from the
marke in order to eNact huus
profits next winter. He recommended
price fixing as the remedy
First Retailer Convicted
Most of the activity in Washington
since the Presidents high cost Of liv-
ing speech last FrlCay "a been in
preparation for the contest to reduce
prices of necessaries. However. At
torney General Pa lmer announced the
hrst conviction for profitsering oy
retailer to-day. A grocer in Birehsm-
ton. N. Y. was fined $500, the DEPART
ment of Justice was advised. for sell
ing sugar a. Is cents pound
Attorney General Palmer said he
would ask no legislation to deal with
hoarders and profteers at this time
otf er than that 81 ggeSted IN his letter
to the chairman of the Senate and
House Agricultural committees TO day.
lie amendments 10 the food control
act recommended ly Mr.. Palmer would
give him very broad powers III dealing
with illegal manipulation Of food
S supplies.
Teeth Put in Control Act
section OF the food control act
W uld be made to read as follows:
THAT it is hereby made unlawful
Ter any perso.- to destroy neces-
sarles for the purpose OF enhancing
the price or restricting the supply
thereof; knowingly 10 commit waste
or wilfully to permit preventable de-
terloration Of any necessaries IN or
IN connection with their production.
manufacture or distribution: to
hoard, as defined in Section of
THIS act. any necessaries; TO monopo-
iize or attempt to monopolize, either
locally or generally, any necessaries;