The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-08-21
DRIVE ID REDUCE
 COST OF LIVING
 ALREADY BEARING FRUIT IT-PALMER
Attorney General Declares He Is Determined to Make Market Operate Nor mally Instead of
 Artificially
By Associated Press

By RsSociaIeu FTcsS
 Washington, August 20.- Attorney General Palmer said today there was evidence that the government campaign U reduce the cost of living al- ready was bearing fruit. A prominent vegetable packer of Maryland wrote MT. Palmer that prices in many lines were beginning to ease off as it be- came evident that the depart ment of justice meant business in announcing that criminal prosecutions against hoarders and profiteers would be insti- tuted wherever the laws were violated.
 We want to make clear. however" said the attorney general, that noth- ins; we can do can change the ;mmu. table economic laws on which prices dePend If we can increa SC the sar- ply " greater production and lessen demand by greater saving on the part Of inc people, then the cost of nvins should come down. We can help that sicng by forcing hoarders t. put on the market food held out for an ad- vance in prices and further by hold ing up to public acorn or by prosecution it Congress gives Us tae criminal amendment to tne food control law. those ~ho are gs lty of trying to ex- aer greater profit than is reasonable and llsI. We ar, going t1 make tine market-that is the law of supply and demand-operate normally instead of artificially."
 Ihe attorney general and Judge Apes, his assistant, drew distinctions, which they said the public should rec, ognize, between hoarded food and stored food. The former is held out of the market in greater quantities than required for the owners business for the purpose of forcing up the mar ket. The latter is surplus being hus- banded from the harvest to the lean season.
 DISTINCTION DRAWN
 Not all stored food is boarded by any means" MT. Palmer said, and we are going 10 be very careful not to do anybody an injustice or to jeopardize the winter supply by forcing on the market the surplus of the summer sea son. We have libelled great quanti- ties of food which we believe to be hoarded and it's disposition after the cases are settled by the courts will depend on the nature of the commodi- ties and the place of storage"
 It was made clear though, that all food proved to be hoarded would Ie put on the market. United States mar. shals probably will administer it's dis position, but whether sales will be made direct to the public or through :'etail- CTS under a guarantee of fair prices. has not been decided
 Reports to the attorney general from state food administrators indicated that fair price boards rapidly were being set up in many states and were proceed : ing to get pledges from dealers to abide by the prices promulgated for the guidance of the public.
 The department of justice announces that Il cases had been brought under the food control act for the seizure of food in Columbus, Ga; St Louis, De- troit, Chattanooga and Kansas City.
 Cost of living questions continued to be discussed by Congress today Mfr. Palmer appeared before the House az ricultural committee in connection with it's consideration of legislation 10 ex- tend the powers of the food control act, opposed the proposal to give the Presi- dent authority 10 fix wholesale and re- tail prices of necessities From the at torney generals statement, the con- clusion was drawn by some committee members that under the amended food control act. the department Of justice primarily would strike at the retail CTS
 Following MT. Palmers appearance the comnaittee held an executive ses- sicn, at which it was understood an agreement was reached on the general nature of the amendment, the proposed section permitting the President to fix prices it was understood, would bs eliminat ed, as we'll as exemptions winch would have been allowed certain re- tailers Exemption would be continued | for faismers, extension of the laws power over other necessities and impo- sition df penalty of two years impris- onment and s5000 fine will be provided l for The committee probably will re- ] port out the amendment tomorrow. The attorney general will meet to- l morrow with the Senate agriculture subcommittee to iron out differences 1 which have developed as 10 amend I sweet potatoes, pumpkins, squas | syrup, asparagus and assorted ia ms were added today to the list of foodstuffs | to be sold by the war department l through parcel post. Prices quoted were Considerably below those in re. tail markets.