New-York tribune., 1919-08-08
Congress To Be Asked to
Enact Permanent Food
Control Bill Applicable
to All the Necessaries
Supply Increases
But Prices Rise
Criminal Action To Be In
stituted Against Pack
ers; Hoarders Targets

WASHINGTON, Aug 1.-THE days
developments in the campaign against
the high cost of living were these:
Cabinet committee on high cost
problem heard the President read
the speech which he is to deliver to
Congress tomorrow and made sug-
gestions that led to alterations
Possibility loomed up that lack of
quorum in House might delay deliv-
cry of Presidents speech.
Forecast of recomme nd tions to be
made by President include appeal to
make Lever food control act include
boots and shoes and clothing and
other life necessaries besides food.
Federal Trade Commission issued
statement showing food stocks are
larger than they were year ago.
Wilson to Avoid Rail Issue
President Wilson's address to- Con-
gress tomorrow afternoon will be con-
fined to the cost of living, but incident
ally thereto the labor problem will be
touched upon as one of the factors af-
fecting the situation through strikes.
1t is asserted on the best of authority
that the railway problem will not be
discussed as such. The President has
no intention of following the advocates
of the Plumb plan in their theory that
one way to attack the cost of living
problem is to nationalize the railways
and other basic industries. In fact, it
may be safely stated that the Presi-
dent has not yet examined that
scheme.
All of the members of the Cabinet
committee on the costs problem, in
cluding members of the sub committee.
except Secretary of Labor Wilson, who
was out of the city, and Director Cen
eral Hines, who conferred with the
President separately on the railway
problem only. were in conference with
the President for about an hour and
half this afternoon. The President
read to them his message to Congress,
which is about $500 words long, and
accepted some suggestions as to minor
changes.
The lid was put on tight as to what
would be the nature Of the Presidents
recommendations, but it was learned
that he would not advocate the pro-
posed system of licensing all persons
or corporations doing an interstate
business, and that he would make no
suggestion as to limiting profits by
law. Further information indicated
that the Presidents message, inso far
As 1t makes any concrete suggestions,
Will. 1t Is believed, urge permanent
legislation to take the place of the
er scopc and more severity
1t is consd de red probable by Of
tcials ,hat the President also will sug-
gest ,he necessity Tor throwing the
full light of publicity" on the quea-
ton of costs, with viey tv enabling
the public to protect Itself against ex-
tortion. This idea may eve, 70 so
far As to include marking the cost Of
manufacture on the article.
Aim to Bring Out Stocks
Pending, the enactment of new leg
islation, the Attorney General is pro
ceeding on the theory that the most
effcctual action he can take to couu-
teract high prices is to enforce the
provisions of the Lever act forb ddny
the boarding of foods. 1t is understood
that members of the Federal Trade
Commission consider that the best
hope of Immediate relief lies in tn.
forcing Of surplus stock to the mar
ket.
That commission to-day published
Il bulletin which indicates that al
though prices of foods now average
higher than they did a year ago
stocks are much larger. The law Of
supply and demand. it says, does not
seem to be working. Why? The com
mission sees the answer In tho in
creased stores of foods, which might
be described as boards.
Acting along similar lines, bills
were introduced in the House and
Senate fixing a time limit within
which perishable foods may be kept
in cold storage.
The stopping of boarding is not
considered a permanent remedy for
the situation. A system of Federal
license is known to have been advo-
Gated by some members of the Cab
met committee as the best means Of
meeting the cost problem in an en-
during way. Propositions to estab
lish margins or percentages of profits
we're suggested to the President, bat