New-York tribune., 1919-09-05
Attorney General Palmer An
nounces That Action Will
Be Started i'm Chicago
Under the Sherman Law
Committees Raise Prices
Eleven States Still Fail to
Cooperate in Fight Be-
ing Waged OH Profiteers
y err York Tribune
fxr.eL r.,1@.., D.,-..

WASHINGTON, Sept 4.-The De-
partment of Justice will make its first
move against the Big Five" packers
on September 10, when it will seek
irdictments charging violations Of the
Sherman antitrust law before a grand
jury convened in Chicago. Attorney
General Palmer announced tonight
John H. Atwood, OF Kansas City,
has been appointed a SPECIAL assistan.
to the Attorney General to coaperatc
with lsidor J. Kreeel. Of New York,
and Charles B. Morrison. OF Chicago.
lieTlously appointed special assistants
fCr the pros ecIiiol of the packers.
Attorney General Palmer sent
sharp telegram TO members of fair
price committees, when he received re
ports to-day that IN some instances
prices have been increased instead of
lowered by these committees
The purpose Of this campaign" the
attorney said. as to reduce the cost
Of living, not 10 increase it. Fair price
committees should not. at any place or
under any circumstances, increase
prices If in the judgment of the com
mlttee a price is too low, it should not
be touched. It IS only prices which
are 100 nigh with which we are con-
cerned."
Eleven States Not Cooperating
The Department Of Justice tonight
made public record Of the agree
ments reached with the Attorney Cen
eral by the committee representing the
National Conference Of Governors on
August 90 This record showed that
eleven states had failed thus far to
organize fair price> committees. They
are Illinois, Maine. Maryland. Kansas,
Michigan, Missouri. New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Utah. Vermont and
Wyoming
Through the committee of govern
ors the Attorney General requested
that the executives Of states that have
no organizations recommend to Mr..
Palmer suitable person who can rep
resent both the Federal and state au-
thorities in the organi cation of fair
price committees
The duties OF the fair price commit
tees were described in the memoran-
DUN as follows:
The jurisdiction Of the fair price
committees will include foods, feeds,
fuel and wearing apparel. Whether all
OF these subjects shall be investigated
Is a matter for each local committee
to determine for itself according to
its own requirements although in the
larger cities it is hoped that the ac-
tivities of the committee Will cover
the entire subject.
Sub-Committees Suggested
DOUBTLESS the chairman in such
communities VIII appoint sub-commit-
tees dealing with the different commod-
tiles. 1t is suggested that on every
committee there should be a whole
saler and retailer. 4 representative
Of organized labor, Of the housewives,
and as many representatives of the
community az large as. the local chair
man may consider advisable.
1T is important that the committees
be so constituted as to command the
confidence and respect of the COM
munity. Dealers should be invited to
accept the prices suggested by the COM
mittee, and the consumers should be-
urged to insist upon these prices or
refuse to buy
Make prohteering unpopular" was
designated in the memorandum as the
motto OF the campaign in which all
United States attorneys and the bu-
reau Of investigation had been ordered
to cooperate with the state authorities.