The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-08

Chicago shortly after it meets
 Under tho direction of Mir. Clyne and Isador J. Kresel of the New York firm of Jerome. Rand 6 KreseI, the Government will inausurate prosecu- lions under both the antitrust and the war time food laws, which prob ably win surpass in scope any lttiga- tion which has been attemtped for years.
 Conspiracy in restraint of trade, with the aim of boosting prices arti- lHcfal1y. will be the burden of the charges against the packers, and it was fntmated today by Mir. C1yne that the investigators would not be content merely with showing or at tempting to show that food prices had been illegally stimulated. but would go into virtually all of the 400 sub eidiary activities in which the packers ore said to engage.
 Expect Criminal Chargea
 Mir. C1yne expected that the degree of control the packers exercise over tho prices of shoes and of all their by-produots and side lines. from mat tresses to banjo strings. would be gone into thoroughly before the prosecu- tions were over. and that criminal charges would be preferred in every case where the evidence warranted.
 Tho immediate purpose of Attorney Con eral Palmer and his assistants is to bring criminal action against the packers and others they believe guilty of violating the spirit and the letter of tho antitrust and food laws for the salutary effects they think convictions would havo upon the tendency to profft1eer.
 They do not assert that proflteering is responsible for all of the high prices thak gro being charged, but they hold that if profitoering is stopped or checked It will result in an apprecia- ble reduction in the prices of some of the most essential commod dities.
 May File Civil Suits.
 Mir. C1yne said today that civil suits might follow the criminal prosecutions but that this was q matter concerning which a definite decision had not been made. Mir. C1yne has dug out a large amount of evidence, but 1t is supposed that his charges wi1l be based to . considerable degree on tho assertions of tho Federal Trade Commission in its allegation of . conspiracy in re- straiut of trade.
 That tho five largo packers ''are in an agreement for the division of live sooo,< purchases throughout the United States, according to certain fixed percentages"
 21That tho five large companies exchange confidential Information" and "employ Jointly paid agents to secure information which is used to control and manipulate live stock marketsL"
 sIThat she f1ve companies "act col- r..- ha4 hrru Hxy means of such practices as
 "(a)-'Splst shtpments' purchases.
 ~(b)-'Pert purchases.'
 "(o)-wlring on.'
 ~(d)-'Makins' tho daily market"
 4-Thnt Swift, Armour. Morris and Wilson have combined with certain other companies to restrict and con- troI shipments from South America to the United States and other coun- tries.
 b@Thaf the largo packers are col Iusively in the sale of fresh meat
 sIThat thero is a joint contribu- ton to funds by the five large pack era
 of various enterprises.
 An army of more than 1000 agents of the Department of Justice began today a nation wide hunt for hoarded food and for evidence upon which 10 institute wholesale prosecutions for proffteering. Under the instructions of Attorncy-Genera Palmer 200 Fed eral attorneys dropped everything else and centercd their whole activities on the fight against the price gougers.
 Observers here believe that with the beginning of the campaign of prosecu- ton by the Department of Justice
 e ly will open tho warehouses of the country and offer great quantities of foods now in storage at prices which will break the market.
 The Department of Justice. 1t is argued. can force this condition. Un- der the strict enforcement of the anti hoarding section Of the food act. prac- tically every warehouse in the coun- try now admittedly full of stored food stuffs, must be opened. and it is ar gued that as soon as they see that the Government is fin earnest the owners of this food will put 1t on the market through regular channels rather than take tho chance of having it con- demned and offered at auction through tho courts. with the added possibility of a fine or jail sentence.
 Tn this connection it was pointed out that the Department of Justice ofricfnis believe that strong public sen- timent will. back them fin demanding jail sentencee for those convicted and that no court would feel content to let off profiteers with a mere fine.
 Much Evfdcnco Already In.
 Much evfdence against hoarders and profifSsrs. 1t was said today, is aI- ready in possession of Department of Juselos omcialsL The eAttorpey-General rn~ hnn a Aa2nmco nf uenr4v 4 O0 mn