Evening journal., 1919-08-14

two years for those convicted OF vio-
lating the act.
Mr.. Palmer wrote that "the amend
ments would be helpful in efforts TO
reduce the high cost Of living II they
could be promptly enacted.s
Representative Huddleston, Democrat
Alabama. charged in the House yester-
day that the National Coal Association
had spent $4,000 for advertising space
in 900 newspapers in an effort to make
the people buy coal now at eXorbilanl
prices through belief Of an impending
shortage
Nothing except an act Of Congress
he said. "will stay this infamous az
tempt on the part Of coal operators TO
take advantage Of suffering humanity
next winter. insist that Congress
pass such an act and take 10 out OF
the power Of the operators 10 prohteer.
There Is no coal shortage and no
labor shortage, but there is a shorlag.
in common honesty on the part OF coal
operators"
Federal regulation Of cold storage Of
food was urged in the senate by Sena-
tor McKellar. Democrat, OF Tennessee
as a certain means Of reducing the cost
of living and as the only remedy Tor
''lhe most outrageous piece Of proilteer-
ing that can be imagined.
Speaking in support Of his bill first
introduced in 1919, and now as relntro-
duced before the senate Interstate Com
merce subcommittee, considering high
cost Of living recommendations or Pres
ldent Wilson. Senator Mckellar said II
The bill had been passed in 1913 he felt
sure the present conditions as 10 eN-
ccssive living costs would not exist.
Tho meat packers were charged by
tho Tennessee senator with using cold
storage facilities 10 fix food prices.
1T is being used by The packers,
ne said. for the purpose Of controlling
prices. As used by the packers it pre-
serves in seasons Of plenty and permits
them 90 withhold such large quantities
Of foOdsiuns from The market as TO
make season Of scarcity at any time
they see NJ and thus they increase the
price TO the consuming public
Explaining his bill senator Mckellar
said il would limit the time foods could
be held I'm cold storage and has been
vigorously opposed by the packers.
Heretofore have been unable 10 get
any action on this bill" said Mr. Me
Kellar. "but / am constrained 10 he
lieve that under existing conditions we
will get action at this time. My bill
does not fetter cold storage I'm any way,
but IL regulates 10 so that the people
can get the very best benefits out
OF e."
Citing recent statistics OF the Federal
Trade Commission Of food held I'm cold
storage. senator McKellar said they
showed vast increases over the amounts
stored last year lie compared retail
prices. secured from the manager Of the
Senate restaurant. showing large in
creases in price, despite The increased
supplies in storage.
some middleman.' said Mr.. Nickel
lar. lis making &C 2-3 per cent. profit
on eggs alone. The only possible way
in which these prices can be manipu-
lated is through the medium Of cold
Storage Put a limit on The time in
which these goods can he held and the
packers will be compelled 90 sell"
Eggs particularly, the senator assert
cd. are monOpolized. They are in the
hands Of the most giant monopoly
there Is in The world" he said "The
price the packers pay and the price at
which they are sold is out Of all pro