Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-05
WILSON GETS PLAN
TO CUT PRICES
Continued From First Page)

Lafallette, Wisconsin. Republicans,
and Wolcott Democrat, Delaware.
Condemns Extravaganza
Condemnation of extravaganza on
the part of the public was heard in
several quarters to-day. one high
official in close touch with national
expenditures declaring no relief
from high prices could be expected
while "1OO,OO0,OO0 people continued
to demand the highest quality oil
everything and were willing to pay
any price to get it,
There still was no indication early
to-day of how the conference would
view the problem. Director General
of Railroads Hines, Assistant Secre-
tary of the Treasury Leffingwell and
Chairman Colver, of the Federal
Trade Commission appointed n COM
mittee to present suggestions to the
conference. have been engaged in an
exchange of memoranda, but 1t was
said authoritatively that they had
reached no decision as to what steps
should be taken.
Confcrs With Trade Board
That President Wilson was TAX
ing a deep interest in the situation
was indicated again yesterday when
without announcement he called at
the offices of the Federal Trade
Commission and held lengthy con-
ference with Chairman Colver and
Commissioner Murdock. Neither of
the two commission members would
discuss the subjects brought up at
the conference but admitted that 1t
dealt with phases of the living cost
problem.
Attorney General Palmer has sum-
moned District Attorney Clyne, of
Chicago, to report on the progress
of Investigations which have been
under way there. Mr.. Clyne's visit
was regarded as significant also be-
cause an early decision is expected
whether information submitted by
the Federal Trade commission war
rants prosecutions against the big
five" packing companies. High
prices and the rising unrest express
ed in strike threats by hundreds of
thousands of railroad men occupied
much of the time of the Senate yes
terday. Senators from wheat grow
ing States asserted that the gov
ernment guaranteed price of $2.26
a bushel was not responsible for the
high cost of bread, declaring that
wheat was selling at terminals at
higher figures.
Investigation by the Federal Trade
of sugar in many PARIS of the coun-
try despite the largest crop in a
number of years was recommended
yesterday by the House Interstate
Commerce Committee in ordering a
favorable report on a resolution by
Representative Tinkham, Republi-
can, Massachusetts. The resolution
calls for an inventory of stocks of
sugar on hand throughout the coun-
try and an inquiry into prices.
Organized labor came out with the
unequivocal, formal demand that
capital be retired from the rail-
roads.
labor and Railroads
A tri-partite control composed of
the public, the operating manage
ment and the employees is demanded
instead.
Addressed to the American public
and signed by the engineers. the
firemen, the conductors and the
American Federation of Labor, a
formal statement was issued an
nouncing this proposal which will
be carried before Congress to-mor-
row.
TT marks" says the statement,
"the step by which organized labor
passes from demands for wage in
creases to demands that the system
of profits in industry be overhaul
ed"
This sentence sums up in a few
words, the proposal of which there
have been hints and indications, but
which is now laid before the coun-
try for the first time. Everywhere
in official Washington it is recog-
niZed as the most serious and far
reaching proposition the country
will be called on to face.
Characterizing the proposal as
''labor's bill," it is put forth as a
remedy for the high cost of living,
because, the railroads are the key
industry of the nation. 1t de-
mands the genuine cooperation
and partnership based on real
patton in control of which Presi-
dent Wilson spoke to Congress, and
which the statement says has been
ignored by labor and the private
owners of the railroads.
I'VE ask" it says. that the rail
roads of the United States he vested
in the public; that those actually
engaged in conducting that indus
try, not from Wall street, but from
the railroad offices and yards and
out on the railroad lines, shall take
charge of this service for the pub
lie"
Profitcering
Unless Uncle Sam looks out he
may be accused himself as the
greatest food profiteer of all. He is
suspected of trying to make money
on the more than $135, 100000 worth
of canned goods and other eats in
the military warehouses instead of
selling to the people at bargain
prices this enormous hoard of food
for which as taxpayers and patriotic
citizens they have already paid.
why doesn't the government
sell this stuff to the people without
profit ?" asked one familiar with the
conditions to-day. 1T seems to me,
that the millions of dollars paid in
wartime for this food entities the
people to the benefit of a quick sale
at low prices" ..'.'
One big wholesale concern of
Harrisburg has adopted as q fixed
policy the selling of goods at a legi-
innate figure without regard to the
unusual conditions which now and
then tempt profiteering. During the
sugar famine last year, the firm in
question is said to have refused to
boost prices on the score of supply
and demand.
Foreign buyers are taking over
the visible supply of foodstuffs," said
a dealer to-day, land instead of the
American consumer getting the ben
eft, he is up against the stone wall
of 45 per cent. Communicated in