The Pensacola journal., 1919-08-11
Attorney General Adopts
Plan to Get Report From
Committee in Each Coun-
ty. a. la.sns;sE
EFFORT is INTENDED
REACH PROFITEERS
It is Announced That Con-
gress Will Begin Today
Actual Consideration of
High Cost Of Living.


X Washington, Aug. 1O.-At-
torney General Palmer started
out today to ascertain how
much Of the high cost of living
is due to excessive profits by
retailers. In a telegram to all
state food administrators who
worked with Hoover during the
war, Palmer requested the ap-
pointment of a fair price COM
mittee in each county to inves-
tigate what is being charged for
retail necessities and if in ex-
cess of what the committee con-
siders just, to publish list of
fair prices for guidance of the
public.
This is the "extra Legal
means Of reaching profiteering
which Palmer recently indicated
was under consideration. Hel
has frankly admitted from the
start that there is no means of
prosecuting directly the man
guilty of extortion in prices.
Retailers who are gouging the
ultimate consumer win have to
be disciplined by private senti-
ment. Hoarders can be reached
through the wartime food laws.
or the Sherman act. Palmer re-
quested administrators to trans
NIT any evidence of boarding
and other violation with the
promise that government law
enforcement machinery will act
promptly. ,..sx
washington, Aug. 10.-Congress to-
morrow begins actual consideration OF
the high cost of living problems.
Plans have been made by leaders for
Immediate consideration of Legislative
recommendations of President Will
sons address and the cost of living
question this week promises even to
overshadow the peace treaty and other
important affairs. Work for several
days will be in the hands of commit
tees
with jurisdiction over the railroad
Brotherhood's demands shifted from
congress to Wilson. and the house in
terstate commerce committee to-
morrow will resume hearings on or
ganized labor's railroad bill
Beyond extension OF the powers OF
the food control act, regulation of the
storage of foodstuffs. and early rati-
fication or the peace treaty so as to
allow the law of supply and demand
to operate, the president has urged
legislation for the control OF security
issues and additional appropriations
for government agencies to supply the
public with information as to prices
paid by retailers for goods. The food
control act. he told congress. should
be extended TO peace times with it's
application covering clothing fuel and
other necessaries OF life as well as
food. and a penalty for boarding in
serted
New steps by the executive depart
ments of the government to reduce the
cost OF living were expected today to
be started at once along lines laid ,
down by the president. who promised ,
immediate steps to limit and control
wheat shipments and credits so as to ,
facilitate the purchase OF wheat with
a view to lowering the price of flour, ,
TO sell surplus stocks of food and cloth ,
and to force withdrawal of foodstuffs ]
from storage. !
Coincident with the presidents ap- /
pearance before congress, the war de- I
partment announced the prices at | I
which its surplus food stocks would ,
DE sold. Price lists are to be sent to q
postmasters throughout the country
through which the consumers may I
place their orders. beginning August 4
fslUnder the departments price list. q
the1 consumer will be able to buy 4
bacon for 25 cents a pound. baked /
beans at cents pound. flour at s. I
per hundred pounds. and other COM !
modities at correspondingiy low
prices ~
TO the prices quoted by the war )
department will be added parcels post .
charges from the nearest army depot
which are to be paid by the purchaser