Arizona republican., 1919-08-14
FEDERAL CONVICTION IF
 PR|CE |NFLATOR
 IS ANNOUNCED
Binghampton, N. Y, Mer- chant Pays $500 Fine for Selling Sugar at 15 Gents a Pound - Authorities Active
[RepubIIean A. ?. Leased WIrel

CRepubIcan A. p. Leased WireJ
 WASHINGTON, Aug. 13.-Tmportant new developments in the governments fight to reduce the high cost of living came today.
 One of the most interesting was an nouncement by Attorney General Palmer that the first federal convie ton for profiteering had been obtained. District Attorney Lucey telegraphed from Binghamton, N. Y. that a re- tail grocer had been fined $500 for sell ing sugar at IS cents a pound No details were given and the law under which the ease was brought was not known here.
 Set a Few Examples
 "A few good cases of profiteering in each state will settle that trouble, MT. Palmer remarked.
 In order to bring to book persons guilty of raising prices exorbitantly or hoarding food to advance prices, MT Palmer submitted to the agricultural committee of congress the draft of an amendment to the food control act ex- tending it's provisions to clothing and containers of foods and feeds and pro viding a penalty of $5,000 fine or two years Imprisonment or both for viola ton of the law Chairman Haugen. of the house committee, announced that the amendment would be considered immediately by a sub committee am that a report might be made tomor- row.
 It is MT. Palmer's idea that this amendment should be considered be. fore taking up other amendments sug. gested by President Wilson to extend the effective life of the food control act beyond the war period.
 Full Weights and Measures
 Three cabinet officers asked special appropriations for congress for the campaign against inflated prices See retary Redfield requested $410.000 for work of the bureau of standards in assuring full weight and measure and of the bureau of fisheries in introduc- ing new fish foods. Secretary vilso.. asked for s475. 900 for employment Of special agents and others and Mr Palmer requested s1000 GOO for the bt- reau of investigation and for the ex penses of the state food administrat- ors assisting the department Of justice. Another s200-000 was asked fer anti trust suits. especially that against tha five big packing companies
 ! z Ss0o0Q0 for other work Of tho depart ment not directly connected with the living problem. such as enforcement af war time prohibition. prosecution Of appea1s and hiring of special assist ants.
 Cut Red Tape
 Asked today if he had any repoIts indieatiHg sufficient food held in stor- age to affect prices materially f re released, Mir. Palmer revealed that | number of governors had appealed q aim to cut 'red tape in forcing on the market amazing quantitiesH of food siUffs now in storage. Iu some cases il was said, the food has been held longer than permitted by state laws but technicaiities regarding interstate commerce had prevented the goyernors from undertaking seizure or proseeu- ion. Mfr Palmer ordered all district attorneys to assist the governors.
 Reports of excessive stocks of food held in storage have been received from at least six states, the attroney general said He declined to be more specific. but 1t was indicated that New Jersey was one of the states.
 investigate Storage Conditions
 Storage conditions also are engaging attention of the state food administra- tors, several of whom lave asked fl they were authorized to publish the facts where it appeared that more food was being held from he public than the reasonable requirements Of a dealer demanded
 T told them 10 go right ahead and 10 use the names Mr Palmer an nounced sT am interested in getting as much information on this subject 10 the ultimate consumer as I pos sibly can"
 Reports to the department showed hat organization of fair price commit tees in counties was proceeding rap idly.
 Campaign is Effective
 The effectiveness of the govern. menf's campaign was indicated in thf revision by the war department oi prices to be charged for surplus arm food. Reductions were made, ..to meet competition by retailers
 Authority asked yesterday by Secre- tary Glass to use the treasury secrei service in the fight against high prices was based on the use of the service in food investigations during the war
 The cost of living continued to coloi much of the debate in congress today
 Would Extend Food Control Act
 Republican Leader Mondell of ths house said today ile believed congress would adopt the presidents suggestion and amend the food control act so as