Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-08-13
u. S. TO CRUSH
H. C. OF |. OGRE
Food Pirates viii Be First to Feel
the Sting of the Laws
Lash.
NOT TO SUBsIDIzE FOOD
Government Does Not intend Enter
ing Upon Any Experiments-De-
Partment of Justice to Ferret
Out and Prosecute Hoarders.

Washington. Aug. THE govern
mert is going TO prosecute the food
profiteers in the United States rs an
immediate remedy for the high cost
of living
This was announced by Attorney
General Palmer after conference
with the president which followed an
all-day deliheratlon Of the special cab
met committee on means Of reducing
the prices of necessities to the agitat-
ed public.
The department of justice, it was
declared. will employ every resource
ut its command to ferret out and pros
ecute the hoarders of food and those
who are charging extortionate prices.
Big and little prohteers are to be
prosecuted and congress is TO be asked
10 supplement the existing penal code
Of the food act with amendments
which will enable the government TO
reach It's hand out and grapple the re-
taller who In many communities Is
charging exorbitant prices for food
stuffs.
The president authorized the state
ment that he will address congress on
the subject within few days and at
that time will submit recommendations
TO aid ia dealing with the critical sit
uation adequately and effectively. Be
yond that announcement the president
had nothing to say regarding the
issue.
II was made clear. however that the
government does not contemplate en-
tering upon any experiment In sub
sidizing food, such as purchasing
wheat AT the guaranteed price. aud
selling It for less to the miller, max
ing up the deficit from the billion-d0l-
lar wheat guarantee fund.
Action, as Attorney General Palmer
put IT, earnest aggressive, vigorous
action" will be directed by the de-
partment of Justice against all profit
GERS, and 1t was reported that among
the FIRST big offenders 70 be proceeded
against will be the big packers.
Following the attorney generals
conferences with the president. Mr..
Palmer counselled with Charles r.
Clync, district attorney of Chicago. and
G. +. Ames of the department of JUS
tice.
II was admitted that the particular
subject of The conference was the Chi.
cago packers. When asked about the
conference, District Attorney Clyne
said he could not discuss #.
The decision of the administration
not 10 heed suggestions relating to
government subsidzation of food was
made public by Julius Barnes, director
of the grain corporation. who CON
ferred with the president.
Mr.. Barnes issued long statement
10 explain the world wheat situation
in the course Of which he said that the
wheat corporation was now engaged in
buying new flour ut less than market
prices and that this would be sold To
the public at $40 barrel. no more and
no less, In any community where deal
ers sought to charge more for the
product
"In America" said Mr.. Barnes.
flour is 80 per cent Of The final whole
sale cost of bread, and 80 per cent is
made up of labor. other ingredients
and delivery. Roughly speaking, to
reduce the 10-cent loaf of bread to .
cents 60 cents per hushel must be
taken from the price of wheat.
III -four were supplied TO the bakers
free CHE present cost of labor ana
other materials remaining the same)
we could hardly attain a retail 5-ccnt
loaf.
II with later developments. Il
world wheat price Is Indicated lower
than the guaranteed basis, the wheat
director win not hesitate TO readjuSt
American flour prices ut the expense of
She national treasury. as authorized
by congress"