The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-04
CONFERENCE CALLED
TO CONSIDER CASE
OF THE PR0F|TEERS
Average Citizen Is Man in
Whose Behalf the In
vestigatiOn Will Be

/, Washington, August 3.-Definitt
steps toward reducing the hight eos,
of living are expected this week. While
, all government departments are work
Ing toward the end of alternating un-
rest by restoring normal level oil
prices, interest centers In the meeting
Tuesday of the conference called by At
torncy General Palmer to consider the
best method of procedure, especially
with respect to 'profitcering.
The committee appointed by the con-
ference, Director Genera Hines. Assist
ant Secretary of the Treasury Letting
well and Chairman Colver. of the fed
eral trade commission, have been en-
gagged in an exchange OF memorandum
which win be put before the confer
ence for recommendation to President
Wilson, who is following all steps
closely.
The presence of Jules Barnes, direc-
tor of the United States Grain corpora :
ton, at the meeting Tuesday will give
expert counsel to the cabinet memb ers
and other officials on the grain situa-
ton. Consideration of a plan to sell
wheat in a free market, the govern
ment absorbing the difference between
the market price and the guaranteed
price, is believed certain.
There are indications that the attor-
ney general is paying especial atten-
ton to cases of profiteering. He has
at his disposal great volume of in
formation collected by the federal
trade commission, showing production
costs in scores of industries. While
there is no law by which profiteering
may be punished directly, Mr.. Palmer
has said that there is a great deal of
good laws" on the statute books, and
it is believed he win find way to
punish cases where there are evidences
OF extortion.
The average citizen is the man in whose
behalf the profiteering investigation will
be pushed, despite the fact that 1t wa.
the new demands OF the railroad labor
unions which precipitated it. Several of
ficials have expressed sympathy with the
salaried man who lacks the backing of
. powerful organization.
The cost of living situation, it was
learned today, will be one of the chief
topics to be discussed at Tuesdays cabi-
net meeting. The question of reducing
living expenditures was brought up al
last weeks meeting, but it is understood
that President Wilson and his adviser
decided to postpone efforts to reach az
agreement as to definite action pending
the obtaining of definite information.
When government officials resume their
attempt to find a solution to the cost
of living problem tomorrow, another fac
tor will have entered into the situation
the ordering of strike vote, returnable
August "a, among the $4,000 shop en-
ployes Of American railroads. Informa-
ton that the shopmen were not disposed
to accept President Wilson's proposal to
have Congress create a special body to
pass on their demands and to consider
them in connection with living problems,
took officials by surprise. 1t generally
was thought that the shopmen would
await some action by Congress before
proceeding farther with their threat to
strike.
Representative Fitzgerald today made
public letter which he had written the
President suggesting that the planned
discharge of navy yard employees De
abandoned.