New-York tribune., 1919-08-20
Senate Refuses to Make
Profteering a Crime e
Until Point Where Extor.
ton Begins Is Defined
Farmers Fear Reprisal
City Dwellers Will Perse.
cute Them, They Say, I'm
less Figures Are Fixed
Ncu York Tribune
WASHINGTON Bursou

Washington Bureau
NASHINGTON, Aug. 19.-Until the
SENATE Committee on Agriculture Sc
cures a satisfactory definition of what
is fair price" for inclusion in the
legislation ATTORNEY General Palmer's
RECOMMENDATION that protiteering in
foodstutfs and wearing apparel be made
penal offence will not be reported for
passage.
After listening to testimony bv rep
resentatives of farmers organizations
to-day that persecution of farmers by
residents of citAs would result from
failure to set out in the law just
what constitutes fair price" the
committee decided upon the appoint
ment of q sub committee to frame 2
definition.
The proposal that a subcommittee
be appointed was made by Senator
Hoke Smith, Democrat, of Georgia, an
opponent of the Attorney Generals
OF the plan, who saw the proposed
amendments to the food control law
would be beaten if allowed to come
TO a vote in the committee in their
present form
Smith Aims at Delay
Senator Smiths proposal was made
with a view to delaying the protiteering
legislation without actually defeating
high cost of living will have died down
IN from thirty to sixty days, and by
that time there will be no need for
additional legislation.
Senator Smith was named chairman
of the subcommittee. The other mem
bers were Senator Kenyon, Republican
Iowa; France, Republican, Maryland
McNary, Republican, Oregon, and
Ransdell, Democrat, louisiana Only
two members of the sub committee ia
vor the Attorney Generals suggestions
They are Senators Kenyon and McNary
The subcommittee will confer with
Mr.. Palmer in seeking definition of a
fair price. but the difficulties in its
way are enormous. Senator Kenyon
told the committee to-day any attempt
to fix fair price would involve CON
siderable investigation into costs, and
Senator McNary said there would be
different standards of fair prices in all
the businesses affected by The legisla-
ton There is strong sentiment in
Congress against anything approaching
price fixing or limitation of profits. but
several members Of the sub committee
saw this as the only way out Of the
present difficulty.
Palmer Pleads for Haste
Attorney General Palmer told the
committee quicl, action by Congress
was necessary. if the proposed extern
sions Of the food control law were to
be of any value He hinted it probably
would not be necessary to employ the
broad powers he asked, except in rare
instances.
The decision of the committee to de-
lay action until the words fair price
had been defined. followed statements
70 the committee by Milo D. Camp
bell. representing the National Board
Of Farm Organizations, and BENJAMIN
+ Marsh, secretary of the Farmers
National Council
Mr. Campbell said persecution Of the
farmers would be the result of making
4 crime Of charging unfair prices
without defining fair or unfair prices
at would put US under the frenzied
sentiment of the Cities he said
There is already spy system at
work gathering evidence against the
farmers, and third degree methods are
being used against them by District
effort is being made 20 put the blame
for high prices on the farmer.
Says "Sleuths" Annoy Farmers
Everywhere farmers are scared he
continued. They have reasons to be
Sleuths are closeting them. laying re-
volvers on the table and forcing them
10 admit they have been profteering
This sort of thing will 90 on inter
minably if these amendments are
adopted"
Mr. Marsh told the committee the
TWO basic causes of the high cost Of
living were the existence of monopolies IS
of land and natural resources and the
failure of Congress TO tax war profits
10 the limit, which has resulted in cur
rency imitation by forcing large bond
issues.
The rapid increase in the selling
price of city and farm land is one basic
cause of the increased cost of living
he said This increase IN land values
amounts 70 four or five billion dollars
q year. Cheap crops cannot be raised
on land for which tenant farmers are
paying rent of $50 an acre. Difference
in .he value of land is one Of the chief
factors in different costs of production
of farm products
Higher Appropriation Asked
Detailed requests for a deficiency ap-
preparation totaling S2,470,6 $40 27
which is a considerable increase over
previous estimates, were laid before
the House to-day by Attorney General
Palmer.
Among the requests directly connect
ed with the high cost of living were
81 ,0OO,O 900 for protection against and
prosecution of all crimes, S245,O00 for
United States marshals, $4,000 for
district attorneys, S150,000 for court
clerks, S345, 900 for special assistant
attorneys and 100000 for enforcement
of antitrust laws.
Meantime the House, with hardly a
dissenting vote, completed yesterday s
action by adopting the Igoe resolution
ordering an inquiry into the price and
cost of shoes. Consideration of the
amendments to the food control act
recommended by the Agricultural Com
mittee should begin as soon as the
committee tomorrow finishes with its
hearings on that matter.
Farmers Complain of Millers
A dozen Congressman from the Mid
die West, it was learned to-day, will
confer with julius II. Barnes, head of
the United States Grain Corporation,
in New York next Tuesday. They hope
to obtain larger returns for the wheat
farmer.
representative Young, of North Da-
kota, who will head the delegation,
said to-day that either the farmers
should be allowed higher prices for