Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-13
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Government War on Food
Hoarders Nets Huge
Returns in Drive.

Chattanooga Aus. 1S.-Elgh-
] ty-fOur Thousand dozen eggs,
stored with the Atlantic Ice
and Coal corporation here for
the account Of Morris & Co.,
Chicago, we're seized today by
the United States district at
torney. Seizure was made nm
der libel proceedings in the
federal court which charged
that the eggs were unlaWfully
stored for the purpose OF m
reasonably increasing prices.
Jacksonville, + "a. Aug. 18.-More
than million eggs, hundreds OF
thousands of tins OF canned foods
and $1,000 pounds of sugar were
seized here today in a raid on
wholesale food warehouses and
cold storage plants by federal on
GERS
Chicago, ILL.,, Aug. 13-It WAS
. learned today that the United
States district attorneys ofice has
under consideration plan to seize
all the foodstuffs stored in the
city, which under the federal food
control act may be classified as
'hoarded," and offer it for sale 10
consumers. The United States bu-
reau of markets has reported that
there are thousands of tons Of but
ter, eggs. fish, poultry and meat in
Chicago cold storage warehouses
which may come under this classi-
fication.
No decision will be reached uu-
til District Attorney Charles r.
Cline returns from Washington.
Under the federal laws, persons
convicted OF boarding food may be
punished by two years imprison-
ment "A fine OF $4,000 or both
The plan under consideration fF
said TO contemplate the seizure NJ
these large quantities of foodstuhs
now in the hands OF manufactur-
ers, dealers. brokers and speculat-
ors and to prosecute the offenders
la.er.
Washington. Aug. 13.-Appropri-
ations aggregating nearly $1,000
900 with which to help carry out
the presidents suggestions for re-
ducing the cost OF living were ask
ed of congress today by the com
msfce and labor departments.
The department Of commerce ask
ed for $4,000 10 be used In an en-
deayor to guarantee full weight
and measure on all foodstuffs. ice,
coal and other commodities and iu
s1andardizing staple grades or
commodities by eliminating the less
useful ones, thus eliminating waste.
The department of labor asked
for $4,000 for the employment OF
10 experts. 200 special agents and
a number Of clerks.
Government Cuts Prices.
To meet reductions recently made
by retailers, a new scale OF prices
for surplus foodstufs was put into
effect today by the war depart
ment Roast beef was reduced from
S2.l5 to $3.50 for six pound cans.
bacon from 50 to 81 cents a pound
and No. 3 cans OF beans from q
to 2 cents. Prices on other items
we're reduced in proportion
The secre ary OF war" said the
announcement, has approved the
policy Of revising war department
quotations from time to time 10
keep these prices below those
charged by retailers for similar
commodities.
First PrOiiteer Convicted.
The first federal conviction for
profteering was reported today 10
the department OF Justice District
Attorney Lucey telegraphed Attor-
ney General Palmer from Ring
hamton. n. Y. that a retail grocer
had been fined $500 in the federal
court for selling sugar at 10 cents
pound
Attorney General Palmer an
nounced today that he would ask
congress for an appropriation OF
S1,200,000 to be used in the cam
paign to reduce the high cost OF
living. or this amount. $1,000 000
would be for the Investigation and
detection Of crimes and for the
work of the state food admiuistrs
tors. and 100000 for antitrust
prosecutions
Springfield, Ill. Aug. 49, Unit
ed States District Attorney e G..
Knots Left here today for Peoria.
to investigate charges or prohtecr-
ing