The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-19
House Directs Federal Trade
To Investigate Prices.
Refuses To Extend Inquiry to
Clothing and Food.
ACTION EXPECTED IN SENATE
Committee Plans To Vote on
Palmer's Requests Today.
Attorney General Wants Food
Control Broadened.

Washington, Aug. ia resolution
directing the federal trade commission
to investigate the high cost of shoes
and determine the cause for increased
prices was adopted today by the house
which refused to extend the inquiry to
clothing and food.
Washington, Aug. 1s.-Action on
legislation to reduce the cost of living
is expected today when the senate
agriculture committee plans to vote
on Attorney General Palmer's request
for broadening of the food control act.
Hearings on the Kenyon and Ken
drick packer bills were suspended until
tomorrow when packers will appear.
Committee Is Opposed.
81 doubt very much whether the
amendments will be reported out by
the committee" Chairman Gronna said
today. "A majority seem opposed to
them 1t is possible, however. that
they may be modified by exempting
farm organizations from proposed
penalties"
The amendments would extend the
food control act to cover clothing and
would add a heavy penalty for prof.
teering. Farmers contended their
organizations might be held liable
under conspiracy clauses OF the act:
The house agricultural committee
also plans to change radically Palmer's
suggestions for amendments to the
food control act. A.
Chairman Haugen today will sub
nit amendments to the food control
act which will provide for the procia-
nation of fair prices of all necessities
by the president with adequate power
to severely punish all who sell above
these figures.
Farmers Are Exempted.
The amendments have been framed
after conferences with department OF
justice officials.
The amendments exempt farmers.
farm organizations and firms with an
nuaI sales less than 100000.
IF you can regulate the big fell
lows and tell the people what fair
prices are, there won't be much
chance for the little fellows to profit
eer." he said.
Attorney General Palmer or As
be called before the committee to-
day to give their opinion on some
details of the plan.
The main purposes of the amend
ments are to get immediate action
and we propose to give the depart
doubt to bring down prices" Haugen
said.
cit is proposed to regulate storage
and commission charges, as well as
other profits"
Carries Heavy Penalty.
Haugen's plan carries the same pen
atty Palmer representatives. of not
more than $1,000, imprisonment for
not more than two years, or both.
The house today was expected to
pass the resolution of Representative
Igoe, Missouri. ordering the federal
trade commission to make a complete
investigation of the shoe situation.
Representative Siegel. New York,
who claims manufacturers are plan
ming to increase the price of white coll
lars to 35 cents September 1, will ask
consideration of his resolution for a
federal trade commission investigation
Of this industry.
Hearings on the Kenyon bill yester-
day uncovered several important
changes. Senator Hoke Smith. Geor-
gia, indicated he will seek to have the
federal trade commission responsible
for enforcement of the Kenyon meas
ure. 1t would entail handling the
license machinery for the entire in
dustry.
That would be most unfortunate. !"
Commissioner Colver told Smith. THE
commission should be maintained
solely as an investigating body
Chairman Gronna declared strongly
for Limitation of profits.
But that would not get to the heart
Of the matter" Colver said. ANY
kind Of excess profits tax can be passed
on to the consumer"