The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-08-16
PLOT TO JUCCLE
FOOD SUSPECTED
Cache of Surplus Foodstuff
Hidden From Federal
Eyes.
From Probe of Profiteering
and Hoarding in Ohio
and Illinois.

Chicago, Aug. 16.-fnterest in the
drive against the food profiteers
centered today in the investigation Of
charges that there exists a conspir-
acy for the interstate juggling OF
fools In order to keep a large cache
Of surplus foodstnffs hidden from the
eyes of federal and state officials, and
the probable arrest of thirty alleged
profiteers.
The office OF District Attorney
Charles F. Clyne was making rapid
preparations to unearth IL possible
a large quantity of foodstuffs alleged
by Gov. Cox, OF Ohio, to have been
shipped to Chicago storage houses to
escape its detection by Ohio officials
In his telegram to Atty. Gen. A..
Mitchell Palmer yesterday. Gov. Cox
declared that Ohio officials had
learned that this practice had existed
for soma time between Ohio and H.
linois wholesalers, who thus managed
to cover themselves in case OF in
spections, If they happened to have
more than the permitted quantity of
foodstuffs in their warehouses.
Customary Shortage.
Evidence said to have been OBJ
tanned by the office OF the Chicago
district attorney shows that Chicago
wholesalers managed to maintain the
customary shortage" in this city,
which is used as one excuse for high
prices. But the vigorous drive
against profiteering now going on in
Ohio has, 1t is charged by Gov. Cox,
a large quantity OF boarded food
Ohio and Illinois there exists huge
quantity of boarded foodstuffs being
juggled.
Close OF Loop.
Chicago officials are planning to close
up on this end of the loop which has
made this Juggling possible and hope
to corner this food when Ohio shuts
down on its end.
Cob II. r. Harris. Jr., In charge OF
the district attorneys office during
Clyne's absence in Washington, has
issued instructions that the books
and records of every shipper, cold
storage man and packer concerning
any shipments of meat or foodstuffs,
be preserved. He has warned that for
any dealer to report that the records
have been lost or stolen will be prima
facie evidence of guilt.
Eye on Meats. :.
Orders were also issued from the !
district attorneys office for a sharp |
lookout for large quantity of meats
supposed to be on the way here from
l Cleveland market house. This, Col.
Harris stated, will probably be seized
'or public sale.
Thirty warrants for profiteering
ire prepared and awaiting only the
'ignature of Clyne. AS soon as he re-
urns from Washington, they will be
erved. Sugar and butter men, and }
! number of retailers, are named.
Sugar Complaints.
Thomas j. O'Brlen, special assist
mt to the district attorney, has been
lamed head of special bureau to
investigate sugar complaints. The
ureau is preparing an immediate
earch for a huge quantity OF sugar
lleged to be hidden in Chicago. In
estlgations now under way or about
0 begin, will include besides sugar
utter, eggs, canned goods and prod
ce boarding. ,,
The date for the sitting Of the !
pecial United States grand jury to !
lvestigate the entire situation, and !
'hich District Attorney Clyne hopes ..
} have indict the packers and others
ccused of boarding, has been moved
p from Sept Is to Sept. 3.
Wholesale Seizures. !
Cleveland, o., Aug. 16-Wholesnle l
eizures of foodstuffs in Ohio cities were 1
vpected today following receipt by r
nited States district attorneys Of the S
ate, of instructions from Atty
en-. A. Mitchell Palmer to act upon
formation furnished yesterday by Gov.
OK, The governor charged that ap-
-oXimately $500, 900 pounds of meats ,
I'd poultry were being Illegally held in =
leveland. Toledo and Cincinnati cold
orage houses. He charged that 2,000,- 6
% pounds was being held In the =
neriff street market storage house in n
eveland. \
Federal authorities last night seized q
0, 900 pounds OF sugar in storage at 6
anton, belonging to the c. d Kenny q
mpany. of Baltimore. under the pro- Y
siOns of the Lever act, II