Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-07
MIR. Laskey Is Told to
Check Hoarding Of.
Foodstuffs In DC.
T.. R. WILSON MAY
ASSIST in INQUIRY
Former Food Administrator
Thought to Have Data
Needed In Probe.

started Immediately by District At
torney Laskey to find out if any deal
ers or individuals in the District OF
Columbia are boarding foodstuffs Tor
the purpose of increasing prices.
This announcement was made to-
day by Acting District Attorney
Jsmes Archer. following receipt Of a
telegram from Attorney General
Palmer directing the local authori-
ties to join at once in the nationwide
campaign Of the Department of JUS
tice to stop profiteering.
Mr.Laskey. upon his return to duty
tomorrow, is expected to map out
plan Of inquiry that will take in
every possible agency which may in
any way be violating the war food
i control act or the Sherman antitrust
k3aw.
It is understood that the District
Attorneys ONCE is considering call
ling upon Clarence R. Wilson, who
Ervas food administrator Of the Dis
frict during the war, to assist In the
/. campaign.
Data Thought Valuable.
The Authorities feel that Mr.. Will
sons service as food administrator
left him with a collection of informa-
ton that will prove valuable in the
Investigation about to be undertaken.
The Attorney Generals telegram
calls Mr.. Laskey's attention to the
fact that the Lever food control act
Is still in effect and that section 6 OF
that act makes boarding of neces-
Bartes crime.
Discussing this section. Assistant
Attorney Archer said he Saw no rea-
son why It could NOT b. applied to
cold storage houses II any of these
places are found to be holding un-
usual quantities Of goods longer than
a reasonable tfnes Tor th4 purpose of
thereby preventing prices from drop
ping
Mr. Archer pointed out. however,
that in cases where cold storage
houses rent out their space to many
dealers, those dealers and not the
storage company should be prosecuted if
they store food there for long periods Of
time to keep prices up.
The Attorney General also calls Mr.
Laskey's attention to section z Of the
food act, which provides that where
boarding is found to exist proceedings
guilty for the purpose of getting pos
session Of the goods so boarded Under
this section, the goods seized would be
sold at public auction.
Sherman Act Applies.
Besides the food control act, which
prohibits boarding. the telegram also
makes reference 70 the Sherman anti
trust law. Mr.. Archer pointed out that
under this act any group of dealers
who are found entering into agreements.
to set prices on foodstuffs may be pro-
ceeded against.
Ofiicialst>o 81 the district attorneys Of
nee pointed out that the food control
act prohibits individuals as well as
storekeepers from boarding large guam
tities Of food. which means that the
honsekeeper who lays in unreasonable
supplies will be as liable to prosecution;
al the market dealer who does SO.
his return win ask the Department Of
Justice or the local police department to
detail investigators to assist his force in
the proposed inquiry.
MI; Archer stated today that SO far no
complaints or bits OF Information on
food boarding here have come to the
district attorneys office.
Two Bills to Lessen n. c. L.
Limitation Of exports and a reduce
ton of $1,000.000,00 in federal taxes
next year as means Of reducing the
high cost OF living were proposed in
resolutions introduced today by Sena-
tor Myers, democrat, Montana, and
Senator Mccormick. republican. Illi-
nois.
Both resolutions were sent to COM
mittees without debate. That by Sem
ator Myers mentioned possible prohi-
bition Of the export Of food, clothing,
hats, caps. leather goods and other
necessities.
Julius Rosenwald today offered the
government the mailing list of Sears,
Roebuck & Co.. of which he is presi-
general distribution Of Army food
He also offered to assist In the order
ing. routing and shipping Of Army
food and otherwise to cooperate.