Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-21
House Committee Acts Fa-
vorabIy on Prison and S.
600 Fine Penalties.
APPLICATION EXTENDED
TO CLOTHING, FUEL, FEED
War Department Civilian EN-
ployes Meet Tomorrow to Plan
Cooperative Store.

Amendments to the food control act
imposing a $1,000 fine and imprison-
ment of two years for profiteering
were ordered favorably reported to-
day by the House agriculture commit
tee.
The legislation was proposed by
Attorney General Palmer and extends
! the terms of the act to include among
the list of necessities wearing ap-
parel, containers of food, feed or fer
tilizers, fuel oil and natural gas.
Will Plan Cooperative Store.
Civilian employees of the War De-
partment will have a meeting in the
auditorium of the Interior Depart
ment building tomorrow afternoon at
5 o'clock to arrange for a cooperative
store in the War Department. as a
means of combating the high cost OF
living. The movement is under the
direction of Joseph w. Ross. director
of welfare service. He will preside at
! tomorrows meeting and explain what
it is proposed to do. A committee has
prepared a constitution and bylaws
and will submit its report for adop
! ton.
Cooperative stores have been estab-
lished by employees of the Post Office
Department and the Interstate Com
merce Commission and have met with
great success. Those behind the
movement in the War Department
hope to have. their store established
in about thirty days. and with its
| operation 20 reduce the cost of living
to its members from Is to 25 per cent.
/ 1t is planned to carry groceries, etc.
and probably clothing. shoes. and GER
tain toilet articles. All War Depart
s,,A
of living are invited to attend to-
morrow's meeting.
Endorses Basket Plan.
Commissioner BrownIow today in
dorsed the "back-to- tn -basket" move
ment OF Washington housewives. in
augufated by persons interested in
cutting down the high cost of living.
Il am sure that those who journey
to the markets will save money" de-
clared Mr. Browniow And IL is no
be noted that the system of dealing
directly between the producer and con-
sumner eliminates many money-eatins
| transactions. The movement is praise
worthy. l am heartily in favor of it,"
! At the farmers market Saturday
morning. Commissioner Brownlow is
expected to be present with Supt
, George ". Roberts of the department
/ OF weights and measures. Sup;
Roberts will conduct housewives
around the chain of stands. introduc-
ing producers to consumers
| A practical demonstration of the
/ basket movement was given by the
! Southeast Community Center, at the
Tyler School building. 18th and G
streets southeast, yesterday, when a
farmer with a wagcnload of potatoes.
apples. tomatoes and other produce
sold out within two hours. More than
ESQ consumers filed their baskets.
Senator Would Know Incomes.
Senator Walsh of Massachusetts in
troduced in the Senate today a resolu-
ton requesting the President to
authorize special committee of the
Senate. proposing to investigate the
high cost of living, to have access to
the income tax returns of all corpora
tions. firms and partnerships engaged
in the large-scale distribution of food
or having contracts with the govern
sment for the furnishing OF military
or other supplies.
The committee, by the terms of the
resolution. would be authorized to an
mex to it's report a list of all persons
employed since April 6. 1917. either
under a regular salary or 'one-dollar-
a-year" basis. to whom government
contracts were issued. either as indi-
viduals or as stockholders in corpora
lions receiving contracts. and what
were the profits of the individuals or
firms.
The preamble to the Walsh resolu-
tion states that there is demand TO
know the names of persons or cor
porations that have engaged in prof
iteering during the time every family
was undergoing sacrifices and thou
sands of American soldiers were CIV
ing their all to their country.
The resolution was ordered to lie
under rf,le fnr
consideration hereafter. Several reso-
buttons are pending in the Senate for
the appointment of special commit
tee to investigate general proflteering.